Heyndrickxia coagulans, formerly known as Bacillus coagulans, exhibits pronounced intraspecific heterogeneity and represents an important probiotic candidate for animal feed. Objective To isolate high-quality H. coagulans strains and evaluate their potential for feed applications. Methods H. coagulans strains were isolated from spoiled fruits, soil, and feces through the plate streaking method. The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Functional assays were conducted to comprehensively evaluate their feed potential, including acid production, gastrointestinal tolerance, biosurfactant production, antimicrobial activity, protease activity, and utilization of different carbohydrates and feed raw materials. Results A total of 133 strains were isolated, among which 23 strains were identified as H. coagulans. Nine strains with strong acid-producing ability were further selected. Among them, strain N9 isolated from rotten Artocarpus heterophyllus exhibited the highest acid production, decreasing the pH to 3.89±0.05 after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C and achieving a lactic acid yield of (3 370.00±87.36) μg/mL. Following treatment with simulated gastric and intestinal fluids and bile salts, the survival rates of N9 were (73.50±1.54)% and (83.20±1.66)%, respectively. Furthermore, strain N9 showed the strongest biosurfactant production, with an oil displacement diameter of (43.00±0.46) mm. Antimicrobial assays revealed that N9 effectively inhibited three intestinal pathogens: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, strain N9 exhibited notable protease activity, with enzymatic characteristics well adapted to the animal intestinal environment. It was capable of utilizing carbohydrates such as xylo-oligosaccharides, as well as feed ingredients including palm kernel meal, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal, soybean meal, and wheat bran for acid production. Conclusion H. coagulans N9, isolated from rotten A. heterophyllus, demonstrates good potential for feed additive, serving as a new candidate strain for the research on probiotic application.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |