¹School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621010, CHINA
²College of Life Sciences and Agri-Forestry, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621010 CHINA DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2026.36666 Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen, and Saccharomycetes may offer preventive potential. This study evaluated the protective effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae pre‑gavage in mice infected with Salmonella enteritidis. Forty‑eight ICR mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (Control), Saccharomycetes cerevisiae group (JM), Salmonella infection group (SM), and Saccharomycetes cerevisiae pre‑gavage followed by Salmonella infection group (JM+SM). During a four‑week prevention phase, JM and JM+SM mice received daily Saccharomycetes suspension (1×10¹⁰ CFU/mL), while Control and SM mice received saline. In the fifth week, SM and JM+SM mice were challenged with Salmonella suspension (5.19×10⁹ CFU/mL). Body weight was monitored throughout. At the end, spleen index, serum cytokines, colonic pathology, cytokine mRNA expression, and colonic immune factors were assessed. Compared with the Control group, SM mice showed significant weight loss, colonic damage, elevated spleen index, increased pro‑inflammatory cytokines (IL‑1β, IL‑6, TNF‑α) and their mRNA, and higher CD3⁺ and sIgA⁺ cells (P<0.05). JM mice showed no significant changes in any measured parameters compared with the Control group (P>0.05). Compared with SM mice, JM+SM mice had attenuated weight loss and significantly improved all measured parameters (P<0.05). In conclusion, S. cerevisiae pre‑gavage effectively alleviates Salmonella‑induced colitis in mice, likely by mitigating intestinal pathology, balancing pro‑/anti‑inflammatory factors, and modulating local immune responses. Keywords : Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Salmonella, Colitis, Immunomodulation, Intestinal barrier