Probiotic effects of Clostridium cellabutyricum YQ-FP-027T on DSS-induced colitis mice via modulating gut microbiota and preventing inflammation

Butyrate-producing Clostridium spp. play fundamental roles in maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis by producing short-chain fatty acids. However, exploration of the strain resources and their probiotic effects remains limited. In previous work, a novel species of butyrate-producing Clostridium, Clostridium cellabutyricum YQ-FP-027^T, was isolated from the pit mud of Chinese Baijiu brewing, which possesses antibacterial activities by modulating gut microbiota. The present study investigated the probiotic effects of YQ-FP-027^T on mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that the mice treated with YQ-FP-027^T exhibited lower disease activity index (DAI), recovered weight loss, and reduced colon shortening. Regarding gut microbial composition, these mice showed increased Shannon and Species richness observed (Sobs) indexes and a rising abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia and Alistipes. Additionally, the expression levels of inflammatory factors Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were suppressed, while those of anti-inflammatory factor Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) were enhanced under YQ-FP-027^T treatment. These results suggest that YQ-FP-027^T holds potential as a promising probiotic against DSS-induced colitis via optimizing gut microbial community structure and modulating gut immune microenvironment.