# Effects of patulin on quail muscle cells and the potential for microbiome-mediated recovery

## TL;DR

This study explores how certain bacteria can help poultry muscle cells recover from damage caused by a toxic compound called patulin.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying Bacillus strains that can mitigate patulin-induced muscle damage in quail cells.

## Key findings

- Patulin treatment increased stress and apoptosis in quail muscle cells.
- Bacillus strains reduced patulin-induced damage and promoted myotube development.
- Gene expression patterns related to muscle differentiation were altered by patulin and partially restored by Bacillus treatment.

## Abstract

Mycotoxins pose a significant threat to livestock health and productivity by compromising immunity and inducing various toxicities. This study investigated the potential of specific Bacillus strains to mitigate mycotoxin-induced muscle damage in poultry cells. We treated quail muscle clone 7 (QM7) muscle cells with patulin, a common mycotoxin, to induce cellular injury. Subsequently, the damaged QM7 cells were treated with the candidate microbial strains, B. subtilis and B. velezensis. Our findings revealed that patulin treatment elevated stress-inducible gene expression and apoptosis markers, concurrently disrupting normal myoblast differentiation, as evidenced by altered expression patterns of Paired Box 7 (PAX7) and Myogenic Differentiation 1 (MyoD) and impaired myotube formation. Notably, treatment with the Bacillus strains significantly reduced these negative effects, reducing stress and apoptosis indicators while promoting a different pattern of myotube development. Although the exact mechanism of muscle recovery warrants further functional assessment, our results highlight the potential of B. subtilis and B. velezensis as agents for mitigating mycotoxin-induced damage in poultry, and offer novel strategies for enhancing animal health and agricultural sustainability.