The yak has a unique physiological structure suited to life in anoxic and cold environments at high altitudes. The aim of this study was to isolate Bacillus species with good probiotic properties from yak feces. A series of tests were performed on the isolated Bacillus: 16S rRNA identification, antibacterial activity, tolerance to gastroenteric fluid, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, antibiotic sensitivity, growth performance, antioxidants, and immune indexes. A safe and harmless Bacillus pumilus DX24 strain with good survival rate, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and antibacterial activity was identified in the yak feces. Feeding mice with Bacillus pumilus DX24 increased their daily weight gain, jejunal villus length, villi/Crypt ratio, blood IgG levels, and jejunum sIgA levels. This study confirmed the probiotic effects of Bacillus pumilus isolated from yak feces and provides the theoretical basis for the clinical application and development of new feed additives.
Keywords: Bacillus pumilus; Daily weight gain; Probiotics; Yaks; sIgA.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.