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Hu Y, Wei J, Yuan Y, Wei H, Zhou Y, Xiao N, Xiong J, Ren Z, Peng J, Cui C, Zhou Z. Intervention effects of fructooligosaccharide and astragalus polysaccharide, as typical antibiotic alternatives, on antibiotic resistance genes in feces of layer breeding: advantages and defects. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133172. [PMID: 38071777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Although antibiotic alternatives are widely used in livestock and poultry breeding industry after in-feed antibiotics ban, their intervention effects on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in these food animals' feces remain poorly understood. Here effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and astragalus polysaccharide (APS), as typical antibiotic alternatives in China, on ARGs in layer feces were estimated by performing metagenomic sequencings and fluorescence quantitative PCR. Fructooligosaccharide significantly reduced sum abundance of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) by increasing Lactobacillus clones and reducing Escherichia clones which had relatively higher abundances of ARG subtypes and MGE subtypes in layer feces. However, at least parts of core ARGs and MGEs categories were not reduced by FOS, such as aminoglycosides- and tetracyclines-resistant genes, Tn916, Integrase, and so on. MGEs and microbiome, especially Escherichia genus and Lactobacillus genus, were the key factors affecting ARGs' sum abundance. MGEs had a higher correlation coefficient with ARGs' sum abundance than Escherichia genus and Lactobacillus genus. These findings firstly reveal the defects of antibiotic alternatives in controlling bacterial resistance in livestock and poultry breeding after in-feed antibiotics ban, and more strategies are needed to control pollutions and risks of core ARGs and MGEs in food animals' feces under a special environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Hu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yongze Yuan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Hongkui Wei
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhou
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Naidong Xiao
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Juan Xiong
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhuqing Ren
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, WuHan 430070, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Changzheng Cui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhongxin Zhou
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Lyte JM, Eckenberger J, Keane J, Robinson K, Bacon T, Assumpcao ALFV, Donoghue AM, Liyanage R, Daniels KM, Caputi V, Lyte M. Cold stress initiates catecholaminergic and serotonergic responses in the chicken gut that are associated with functional shifts in the microbiome. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103393. [PMID: 38320392 PMCID: PMC10851224 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing the sustainability of global poultry production. Stress resulting from extreme temperature swings, including cold snaps, is a major concern for food production birds. Despite being well-documented in mammals, the effect of environmental stress on enteric neurophysiology and concomitant impact on host-microbiome interactions remains poorly understood in birds. As early life stressors may imprint long-term adaptive changes in the host, the present study sought to determine whether cold temperature stress, a prominent form of early life stress in chickens, elicits changes in enteric stress-related neurochemical concentrations that coincide with compositional and functional changes in the microbiome that persist into the later life of the bird. Chicks were, or were not, subjected to cold ambient temperature stress during the first week post-hatch and then remained at normal temperature for the remainder of the study. 16S rRNA gene and shallow shotgun metagenomic analyses demonstrated taxonomic and functional divergence between the cecal microbiomes of control and cold stressed chickens that persisted for weeks following cessation of the stressor. Enteric concentrations of serotonin, norepinephrine, and other monoamine neurochemicals were elevated (P < 0.05) in both cecal tissue and luminal content of cold stressed chickens. Significant (P < 0.05) associations were identified between cecal neurochemical concentrations and microbial taxa, suggesting host enteric neurochemical responses to environmental stress may shape the cecal microbiome. These findings demonstrate for the first time that early life exposure to environmental temperature stress can change the developmental trajectory of both the chicken cecal microbiome and host neuroendocrine enteric physiology. As many neurochemicals serve as interkingdom signaling molecules, the relationships identified here could be exploited to control the impact of climate change-driven stress on avian enteric host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Lyte
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
| | - Julia Eckenberger
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Kelsy Robinson
- Poultry Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Tyler Bacon
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | | | - Annie M Donoghue
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Rohana Liyanage
- Statewide Mass Spectrometry Lab, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Karrie M Daniels
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Valentina Caputi
- Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Mark Lyte
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Marcolla CS, Ju T, Lantz HL, Willing BP. Investigating the cecal microbiota of broilers raised in extensive and intensive production systems. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0235223. [PMID: 37754552 PMCID: PMC10581045 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02352-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Intensive broiler production practices are structured to prevent the introduction and spread of pathogens; however, they can potentially minimize the exposure of broilers to beneficial commensal bacteria. In this study, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the cecal microbiota of 35-day-old broilers from 22 independent commercial farms rearing broilers under intensive (IPS) or extensive production systems (EPS). We aimed to determine which bacteria are normal inhabitants of the broiler ceca and which bacteria might be missing from broilers in IPS. In addition, we generated a collection of 410 bacterial isolates, including 87 different species, to be used as a resource to further explore the effects of selected isolates on bird physiology and to elucidate the role of individual species within the cecal microbial community. Our results indicated significant differences in the microbiota of broilers between systems: the microbiota of broilers from EPS was dominated by Bacteroidetes {55.2% ± 8.9 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)]}, whereas Firmicutes dominated the microbiota of broilers from IPS (61.7% ± 14.4, mean ± SD). Bacterial taxa found to be core in the EPS microbiota, including Olsenella, Alistipes, Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Parabacteroides, Megamonas, and Parasutterella, were shown to be infrequent or absent from the IPS microbiota, and the EPS microbiota presented higher phylogenetic diversity and greater predicted functional potential than that of broilers in IPS. The bacteria shown to be depleted in broilers from IPS should be further investigated for their effects on bird physiology and potential application as next-generation probiotics. IMPORTANCE Production practices in intensive farming systems significantly reduce the introduction and spread of pathogens; however, they may potentially minimize the exposure of animals to beneficial commensal microorganisms. In this study, we identified core bacteria from the cecal microbiota of broilers raised in extensive production systems that are missing or reduced in birds from intensive systems, including Olsenella, Alistipes, Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Parabacteroides, Megamonas, and Parasutterella. Furthermore, the cecal microbiota of broilers from extensive systems showed higher diversity and greater functional potential than that of broilers from intensive systems. In addition, a collection of bacterial isolates containing 87 different species was generated from the current study, and this important resource can be used to further explore the role of selected commensal bacteria on the microbial community and bird physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila S. Marcolla
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Tingting Ju
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Hannah L. Lantz
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Benjamin P. Willing
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Marcolla CS, Ju T, Willing BP. Cecal Microbiota Development and Physiological Responses of Broilers Following Early Life Microbial Inoculation Using Different Delivery Methods and Microbial Sources. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0027123. [PMID: 37098952 PMCID: PMC10231219 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00271-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Broilers in intensive systems may lack commensal microbes that have coevolved with chickens in nature. This study evaluated the effects of microbial inocula and delivery methods applied to day-old chicks on the development of the cecal microbiota. Specifically, chicks were inoculated with cecal contents or microbial cultures, and the efficacies of three delivery methods (oral gavage, spraying inoculum into the bedding, and cohousing) were evaluated. Also, a competitive study evaluated the colonization ability of bacteria sourced from extensive or intensive poultry production systems. The microbiota of inoculated birds presented higher phylogenetic diversity values (PD) and higher relative abundance values of Bacteroidetes, compared with a control. Additionally, a reduction in the ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio and increased cecal IL-6, IL-10, propionate, and valerate concentrations were observed in birds that were inoculated with cecal contents. Across the experiments, the chicks in the control groups presented higher relative abundance values of Escherichia/Shigella than did the inoculated birds. Specific microbes from intensively or extensively raised chickens were able to colonize the ceca, and inocula from intensive production systems promoted higher relative abundance values of Escherichia/Shigella. We concluded that Alistipes, Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Mediterranea, Parabacteroides, Megamonas, and Phascolarctobacterium are effective colonizers of the broiler ceca. In addition, oral gavage, spray, and cohousing can be used as delivery methods for microbial transplantation, as indicated by their effects on the cecal microbiota, intestinal morphology, short-chain fatty acids concentration, and cytokine/chemokine levels. These findings will guide future research on the development of next-generation probiotics that are able to colonize and persist in the chicken intestinal tract after a single exposure. IMPORTANCE The strict biosecurity procedures employed in the poultry industry may inadvertently hinder the transmission of beneficial commensal bacteria that chickens would encounter in natural environments. This research aims at identifying bacteria that can colonize and persist in the chicken gut after a single exposure. We evaluated different microbial inocula that were obtained from healthy adult chicken donors as well as three delivery methods for their effects on microbiota composition and bird physiology. In addition, we conducted a competitive assay to test the colonization abilities of bacteria sourced from intensively versus extensively raised chickens. Our results indicated that some bacteria are consistently increased in birds that are exposed to microbial inoculations. These bacteria can be isolated and employed in future research on the development of next-generation probiotics that contain species that are highly adapted to the chicken gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila S. Marcolla
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tingting Ju
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Benjamin P. Willing
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
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Lee MD, Pedroso AA, Lumpkins B, Cho Y, Maurer JJ. Pioneer colonizers: Bacteria that alter the chicken intestinal morphology and development of the microbiota. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1139321. [PMID: 37064908 PMCID: PMC10090334 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1139321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbes commonly administered to chickens facilitate development of a beneficial microbiome that improves gut function, feed conversion and reduces pathogen colonization. Competitive exclusion products, derived from the cecal contents of hens and shown to reduce Salmonella colonization in chicks, possess important pioneer-colonizing bacteria needed for proper intestinal development and animal growth. We hypothesized that inoculation of these pioneer-colonizing bacteria to day of hatch chicks would enhance the development of their intestinal anatomy and microbiome. A competitive exclusion product was administered to broiler chickens, in their drinking water, at day of hatch, and its impact on intestinal morphometrics, intestinal microbiome, and production parameters, was assessed relative to a control, no treatment group. 16S rRNA gene, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was used to assess ileal community composition. The competitive exclusion product, administered on day of hatch, increased villus height, villus height/width ratio and goblet cell production ∼1.25-fold and expression of enterocyte sugar transporters 1.25 to 1.5-fold in chickens at 3 days of age, compared to the control group. As a next step, chicks were inoculated with a defined formulation, containing Bacteroidia and Clostridia representing pioneer-colonizing bacteria of the two major bacterial phyla present in the competitive exclusion product. The defined formulation, containing both groups of bacteria, were shown, dependent on age, to improve villus height (jejunum: 1.14 to 1.46-fold; ileum: 1.17-fold), goblet cell numbers (ileum 1.32 to 2.51-fold), and feed efficiency (1.18-fold, day 1) while decreasing Lactobacillus ileal abundance by one-third to half in birds at 16 and 42 days of age, respectively; compared to the phosphate buffered saline treatment group. Therefore, specific probiotic formulations containing pioneer colonizing species can provide benefits in intestinal development, feed efficiency and body weight gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margie D. Lee
- Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Margie D. Lee,
| | - Adriana A. Pedroso
- Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Brett Lumpkins
- Department of Poultry Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Youngjae Cho
- Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - John J. Maurer
- Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Pottenger S, Watts A, Wedley A, Jopson S, Darby AC, Wigley P. Timing and delivery route effects of cecal microbiome transplants on Salmonella Typhimurium infections in chickens: potential for in-hatchery delivery of microbial interventions. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:11. [PMID: 36788638 PMCID: PMC9926694 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to microbes early in life has long-lasting effects on microbial community structure and function of the microbiome. However, in commercial poultry settings chicks are reared as a single-age cohort with no exposure to adult birds which can have profound effects on microbiota development and subsequent pathogen challenge. Microbiota manipulation is a proven and promising strategy to help reduce pathogen load and transmission within broiler flocks. However, administration of microbiota transplant products in a hatchery setting may prove challenging. Effective administration strategies are dependent on key factors, such as; the age of chicks receiving interventions and mode of delivery. This study aimed to assess these two aspects to provide supporting evidence towards microbiome manipulation strategies for use in commercial hatcheries. RESULTS Manipulation of the microbiota between 4 and 72 h of hatch markedly reduced faecal shedding and colonisation with the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST4/74). Administration of transplant material via spray or gel drop delivery systems had minimal effect on the protection conferred with fewer birds in transplant groups shown to shed ST4/74 in the faeces compared to PBS-gavaged control birds. Analysis of the microbiome following transplantation demonstrated that all transplant groups had higher diversity and species richness than non-transplant groups during the first week of life and the early stages of infection with ST47/4.The relative abundance of the bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly higher in CMT groups compared to PBS controls. The presence of F. prausnitzii was also shown to increase in PBS-challenged birds compared to unchallenged birds potentially indicating a role of this bacterium in limiting Salmonella infections. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that administration of microbiome transplants, using methods that would align with hatchery practices, effectively reduced colonisation and shedding of Salmonella in chickens. Age of chicks at microbiome administration had limited effect on the diversity and composition of the microbiome and conferred protection against Salmonella infections. Traditional hatchery delivery systems, such as spray or gel-drop, are sufficient to transfer donor material, alter the microbiome and confer protection against Salmonella. This study helps highlight the opportunity for use of microbiome modification methods within the hatchery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sian Pottenger
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Amyleigh Watts
- grid.10025.360000 0004 1936 8470Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Amy Wedley
- grid.10025.360000 0004 1936 8470Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sue Jopson
- grid.10025.360000 0004 1936 8470Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alistair C. Darby
- grid.10025.360000 0004 1936 8470Centre for Genomic Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paul Wigley
- grid.10025.360000 0004 1936 8470Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK ,grid.5337.20000 0004 1936 7603School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Rubens J, Kibilds J, Jansons M, Piginka-Vjaceslavova I, Barene I, Daberte I, Liepa L, Malniece A, Rubens A, Starkute V, Zokaityte E, Ruzauskas M, Bartkiene E, Bartkevics V, Pugajeva I. Application of Baltic Pine ( Pinus sylvestris) Needle Extract as a Gut Microbiota-Modulating Feed Supplement for Domestic Chickens ( Gallus gallus). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:297. [PMID: 36679012 PMCID: PMC9861901 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The valorization of wood industry residues is very desirable from a circular economy perspective. Pine needle extracts are known for their health-promoting properties and therefore can be used as herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. Since the withdrawal of antibiotics as growth promoters in the European Union, natural feed additives that improve poultry health and production are needed. It was proposed that pine needle extract could be a good alternative to antibiotic usage at sub-therapeutic concentrations. The results relevant to our assumption could be obtained by using domestic chickens as an in vivo model for the evaluation of gut microbiota-altering properties of pine needle extract as an herbal supplement. We tested the antimicrobial effects of Baltic pine (Pinus sylvestris) needle extract. Then, we used chicken (Gallus gallus) that received feed supplemented with two different concentrations of the extract for 40 days to evaluate the changes in gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This preliminary study demonstrated trends toward dose-dependent desirable changes in broiler microbiome, such as a reduction in the relative abundance of Campylobacter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juris Rubens
- Research and Experimental Development on Biotechnology, BF-ESSE LLC, Brivibas Gatve 369 k-2, LV-1024 Riga, Latvia
| | - Juris Kibilds
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Lejupes 3, LV-1076 Riga, Latvia
| | - Martins Jansons
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Lejupes 3, LV-1076 Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Ilze Barene
- Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Irena Daberte
- Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Laima Liepa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Kristapa Helmana 8, LV-3004 Jelgava, Latvia
| | - Aija Malniece
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Kristapa Helmana 8, LV-3004 Jelgava, Latvia
| | - Arturs Rubens
- Research and Experimental Development on Biotechnology, BF-ESSE LLC, Brivibas Gatve 369 k-2, LV-1024 Riga, Latvia
| | - Vytaute Starkute
- Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Egle Zokaityte
- Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Modestas Ruzauskas
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Veterinary, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus Str. 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Elena Bartkiene
- Institute of Animal Rearing Technologies, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vadims Bartkevics
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Raina Blv 19, LV-1586 Riga, Latvia
| | - Iveta Pugajeva
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Lejupes 3, LV-1076 Riga, Latvia
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Leigh RJ, Corrigan A, Murphy RA, Walsh F. Effect of Mannan-rich fraction supplementation on commercial broiler intestinum tenue and cecum microbiota. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:66. [PMID: 36536475 PMCID: PMC9762088 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00208-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The broiler gastrointestinal microbiome is a potent flock performance modulator yet may also serve as a reservoir for pathogen entry into the food chain. The goal of this project was to characterise the effect of mannan rich fraction (MRF) supplementation on microbiome diversity and composition of the intestinum tenue and cecum of commercial broilers. This study also aimed to address some of the intrinsic biases that exist in microbiome studies which arise due to the extensive disparity in 16S rRNA gene copy numbers between bacterial species and due to large intersample variation. RESULTS We observed a divergent yet rich microbiome structure between different anatomical sites and observed the explicit effect MRF supplementation had on community structure, diversity, and pathogen modulation. Birds supplemented with MRF displayed significantly higher species richness in the cecum and significantly different bacterial community composition in each gastrointestinal (GI) tract section. Supplemented birds had lower levels of the zoonotic pathogens Escherichia coli and Clostridioides difficile across all three intestinum tenue sites highlighting the potential of MRF supplementation in maintaining food chain integrity. Higher levels of probiotic genera (eg. Lactobacillus and Blautia) were also noted in the MRF supplemented birds. Following MRF supplementation, the cecum displayed higher relative abundances of both short chain fatty acid (SFCA) synthesising bacteria and SCFA concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Mannan rich fraction addition has been observed to reduce the bioburden of pathogens in broilers and to promote greater intestinal tract microbial biodiversity. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to investigate the effect of mannan-rich fraction supplementation on the microbiome associated with different GI tract anatomical geographies. In addition to this novelty, this study also exploited machine learning and biostatistical techniques to correct the intrinsic biases associated with microbiome community studies to enable a more robust understanding of community structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Leigh
- grid.95004.380000 0000 9331 9029Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbiome Research Group, Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Aoife Corrigan
- grid.496915.6Alltech Inc. (Alltech European Bioscience Centre), Summerhill Road, Sarney, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Richard A. Murphy
- grid.496915.6Alltech Inc. (Alltech European Bioscience Centre), Summerhill Road, Sarney, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Fiona Walsh
- grid.95004.380000 0000 9331 9029Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbiome Research Group, Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Gut Microbiome Studies in Livestock: Achievements, Challenges, and Perspectives. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233375. [PMID: 36496896 PMCID: PMC9736591 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The variety and makeup of the gut microbiome are frequently regarded as the primary determinants of health and production performances in domestic animals. High-throughput DNA/RNA sequencing techniques (NGS) have recently gained popularity and permitted previously unheard-of advancements in the study of gut microbiota, particularly for determining the taxonomic composition of such complex communities. Here, we summarize the existing body of knowledge on livestock gut microbiome, discuss the state-of-the-art in sequencing techniques, and offer predictions for next research. We found that the enormous volumes of available data are biased toward a small number of globally distributed and carefully chosen varieties, while local breeds (or populations) are frequently overlooked despite their demonstrated resistance to harsh environmental circumstances. Furthermore, the bulk of this research has mostly focused on bacteria, whereas other microbial components such as protists, fungi, and viruses have received far less attention. The majority of these data were gathered utilizing traditional metabarcoding techniques that taxonomically identify the gut microbiota by analyzing small portions of their genome (less than 1000 base pairs). However, to extend the coverage of microbial genomes for a more precise and thorough characterization of microbial communities, a variety of increasingly practical and economical shotgun techniques are currently available.
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Weinroth MD, Oakley B, Ramírez GA, Reyes A, Harris CE, Buhr RJ. 16S rRNA gene-based assessment of common broiler chicken sampling methods: Evaluating intra-flock sample size, cecal pair similarity, and cloacal swab similarity to other alimentary tract locations. Front Physiol 2022; 13:996654. [DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.996654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
16S rRNA gene sequencing for characterization of microbiomes has become more common in poultry research and can be used to both answer specific research questions and help inform experimental design choices. The objective of this study was to use 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine common sampling practices in broiler chicken studies such as: the required number of birds selected from a flock to adequately capture microbiome diversity, the differences between cecal pairs within the same bird, and whether cloacal swabs are representative of other alimentary tract (AT) locations. To do this, nine market age broilers were euthanized and immediately sampled in ten AT locations: crop, gizzard, proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecal samples from each pouch, colon, and cloacal swab. DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Each location within the broiler AT hosts distinct microbial communities. When each sampling location was considered, it was found that sampling after 2.8 birds (range 2–4) resulted in less than 10% new amplicon sequencing variants (ASV) being added while sampling after 7.6 birds (range 6–10) increases new observed ASVs by less than 1%. Additionally, when cecal pairs from the same bird were evaluated, it was found that cecal pair mates are an adequate replication if interested in the total cecal microbiome but may be less useful if a rare lineage is of interest. Furthermore, when compared to other AT locations, the cecal microbiome was enriched in Firmicutes and Bacteroides while several lineages, most notably Lactobacillus, were under-represented. Finally, when cloacal swabs were compared to other AT locations, community similarity exhibited a direct distance relationship, i.e., the more aborad samples were the more similar they were to the swab. These findings indicate that while cloacal swabs can approximate overall changes in microbiome composition, they are not adequate for inferring changes to specific taxa in other parts of the AT tract—even those that are highly abundant within the microbial community. These data provide new insights guiding appropriate sample size selection within flocks and add to the consensus data regarding cecal pair similarity and destructive versus non-destructive sampling methods.
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Ramírez GA, Keshri J, Vahrson I, Garber AI, Berrang ME, Cox NA, González-Cerón F, Aggrey SE, Oakley BB. Cecal Microbial Hydrogen Cycling Potential Is Linked to Feed Efficiency Phenotypes in Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:904698. [PMID: 35799838 PMCID: PMC9255636 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.904698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In chickens, early life exposure to environmental microbes has long-lasting impacts on gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome development and host health and growth, via mechanisms that remain uncharacterized. In this study, we demonstrated that administrating a fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) from adults to day-of-hatch chicks results in significantly higher body mass of birds and decreased residual feed intake (RFI), implying enhanced feed efficiency, at 6 weeks of age. To assess the potential mechanisms through which FMT affects adult bird phenotype, we combined 16 S rRNA gene amplification, metagenomic, and comparative genomic approaches to survey the composition and predicted activities of the resident microbiome of various GI tract segments. Early life FMT exposure had a long-lasting significant effect on the microbial community composition and function of the ceca but not on other GI segments. Within the ceca of 6-week-old FMT birds, hydrogenotrophic microbial lineages and genes were most differentially enriched. The results suggest that thermodynamic regulation in the cecum, in this case via hydrogenotrophic methanogenic and sulfur-cycling lineages, potentially serving as hydrogen sinks, may enhance fermentative efficiency and dietary energy harvest capacity. Our study provides a specific mechanism of action through which early-life microbiome transplants modulate market-relevant phenotypes in poultry and, thereby, may represent a significant advance toward microbiome-focused sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Antonio Ramírez
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
- Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jitendra Keshri
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Isabella Vahrson
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Arkadiy I. Garber
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Mark E. Berrang
- Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Nelson A. Cox
- Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Fernando González-Cerón
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Chapingo Autonomous University, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
- NutriGenomics Laboratory, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Samuel E. Aggrey
- NutriGenomics Laboratory, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Brian B. Oakley
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
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12
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Modeling the Impact of Management Changes on the Infection Dynamics of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in the Broiler Production. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050981. [PMID: 35630424 PMCID: PMC9144090 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock animals, especially poultry, are a known reservoir for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli). They may enter the pen either via positive day-old chicks or via the environment. We developed a mathematical model to illustrate the entry and dissemination of resistant bacteria in a broiler pen during one fattening period in order to investigate the effectiveness of intervention measures on this infection process. Different management measures, such as varying amounts of litter, a slow-growing breed or lower stocking densities, were tested for their effects on broiler colonization. We also calculated the impact of products that may influence the microbiota in the chicks’ digestive tract, such as pre- or probiotics, feed supplements or competitive exclusion products. Our model outcomes show that a contaminated pen or positive chicks at the beginning of the fattening period can infect the entire flock. Increasing the amount of litter and decreasing the stocking density were shown to be effective in our model. Differences in the route of entry were found: if the chicks are already positive, the litter quantity must be increased to at least six times the standard of 1000 g/m2, whereas, if the pen is contaminated on the first day, three times the litter quantity is sufficient. A reduced stocking density of 20 kg/m2 had a significant effect on the incidence of infection only in a previously contaminated pen. Combinations of two or three measures were effective in both scenarios; similarly, feed additives may be beneficial in reducing the growth rate of ESBL-producing E. coli. This model is a valuable tool for evaluating interventions to reduce the transmission and spread of resistant bacteria in broiler houses. However, data are still needed to optimize the model, such as growth rates or survival data of ESBL-producing E. coli in different environments.
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Shehata AM, Paswan VK, Attia YA, Abdel-Moneim AME, Abougabal MS, Sharaf M, Elmazoudy R, Alghafari WT, Osman MA, Farag MR, Alagawany M. Managing Gut Microbiota through In Ovo Nutrition Influences Early-Life Programming in Broiler Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3491. [PMID: 34944266 PMCID: PMC8698130 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The chicken gut is the habitat to trillions of microorganisms that affect physiological functions and immune status through metabolic activities and host interaction. Gut microbiota research previously focused on inflammation; however, it is now clear that these microbial communities play an essential role in maintaining normal homeostatic conditions by regulating the immune system. In addition, the microbiota helps reduce and prevent pathogen colonization of the gut via the mechanism of competitive exclusion and the synthesis of bactericidal molecules. Under commercial conditions, newly hatched chicks have access to feed after 36-72 h of hatching due to the hatch window and routine hatchery practices. This delay adversely affects the potential inoculation of the healthy microbiota and impairs the development and maturation of muscle, the immune system, and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Modulating the gut microbiota has been proposed as a potential strategy for improving host health and productivity and avoiding undesirable effects on gut health and the immune system. Using early-life programming via in ovo stimulation with probiotics and prebiotics, it may be possible to avoid selected metabolic disorders, poor immunity, and pathogen resistance, which the broiler industry now faces due to commercial hatching and selection pressures imposed by an increasingly demanding market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrazeq M. Shehata
- Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India;
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt;
| | - Vinod K. Paswan
- Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India;
| | - Youssef A. Attia
- Agriculture Department, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdel-Moneim Eid Abdel-Moneim
- Nuclear Research Center, Biological Applications Department, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Abu-Zaabal 13759, Egypt;
| | - Mohammed Sh. Abougabal
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt;
| | - Mohamed Sharaf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
| | - Reda Elmazoudy
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (R.E.); (M.A.O.)
- Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wejdan T. Alghafari
- Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamed A. Osman
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (R.E.); (M.A.O.)
- Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mayada R. Farag
- Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
| | - Mahmoud Alagawany
- Poultry Department, Agriculture Faculty, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
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Glendinning L, Chintoan-Uta C, Stevens MP, Watson M. Effect of cecal microbiota transplantation between different broiler breeds on the chick flora in the first week of life. Poult Sci 2021; 101:101624. [PMID: 34936955 PMCID: PMC8704443 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The cecal microbiota plays numerous roles in chicken health and nutrition. Where such microbiota differs between lines exhibiting distinct phenotypes, microbiota transplantation offers scope to dissect the role of gut microbial communities in those traits. However, the composition and stability of transplants over time is relatively ill-defined and varying levels of success have been reported. In this study, we transplanted cecal contents from adult Roslin broilers into chicks from a different broiler line. Within <12 h posthatch, Ross 308 chicks received an oral gavage of cecal contents (n = 26) or a PBS control (n = 24). Cecal contents samples were collected postmortem from birds on d 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 posthatch. DNA was extracted from these samples and the transplant inoculum and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. The cecal microbiota of chickens receiving the microbiota transplant was significantly different in composition and significantly richer and more diverse, in comparison to control birds. At the final timepoint (d 7), of the 150 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) that were >0.1% abundant (average) in the donor sample, 137 were detected in the treated group (75 were >0.1% abundant (average)) while only 88 were detected in the control group (29 were >0.1% abundant (average)). Our data therefore suggests that stable transplantation of the cecal microbiota between lines is achievable using the methods described in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Glendinning
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
| | - Cosmin Chintoan-Uta
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Mark P Stevens
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Mick Watson
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
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Yan C, Xiao J, Li Z, Liu H, Zhao X, Liu J, Chen S, Zhao X. Exogenous Fecal Microbial Transplantation Alters Fearfulness, Intestinal Morphology, and Gut Microbiota in Broilers. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:706987. [PMID: 34660756 PMCID: PMC8517117 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.706987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) documented transplanting a donor fecal sample to a receipt individual for a desired physiologic effect. However, whether the gut microbiota construction, intestinal maturation, and behavioral plasticity are modulated by FMT during the early life of broilers is waiting for verification. To evaluate the role of transfer of fecal microbiota from aged broilers donor (BD) to another individual, 96 birds were equally divided into a check (CK, control) group and a broiler recipient (BR) group. FMT was conducted daily from 5 to 12 days of age to determine the future impact on body weight, behavior, intestinal development, and gut microbiota. Results indicated that fearfulness in the CK group was higher than the BR group in both the behavioral tests (p < 0.05). The muscularis mucosa, thickness of muscle layer, and thickness of serous membrane layer in the BR group were higher compared with those of the CK group in the jejunum (p < 0.05). In the gut microbiota, Shannon diversity showed no difference, while beta diversity presented a difference in principal coordination analysis (PCoA) between the CK and BR groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Lentisphaerae in the CK group was lower than the BR (p = 0.052) and BD (p = 0.054) groups. The relative abundance of Tenericutes in the BD group was higher than that in the CK and BR groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Megamonas in the CK group was higher than the BR (p = 0.06) and BD (p < 0.05) groups. In the BR group, the functional capabilities of microbial communities analyzed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were increased in the glutamatergic synapse and N-glycan biosynthesis pathways in comparison with the CK and BD groups (p < 0.05). Some characteristics of gut microbiota in the donor chickens could be transferred to recipient chickens by FMT. In conclusion, exogenous FMT as a probiotic-like administration might be an efficient way to improve the physiology and behavior of chickens. Notably, the role of microbiota for various individuals and periods remains undefined, and the mechanism of microbiota on behaviors still needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Jinlong Xiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Zhiwei Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinjie Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Xingbo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Guizhou Nayong Professor Workstation of China Agricultural University, Bijie, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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16
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Gilroy R. Spotlight on the avian gut microbiome: fresh opportunities in discovery. Avian Pathol 2021; 50:291-294. [PMID: 34264153 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2021.1955826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Chickens represent a globally ubiquitous food animal underpinning many aspects of human nutrition and health. Consumption of chicken meat continues to surge, representing a cheaper, healthier, low-carbon alternative to other livestock meats. Despite this importance, we are still unable to define what lives within the chicken gut microbiome. This complex community bridges poultry diet, health and productivity as well as providing a reservoir for zoonotic pathogens. Even with decades of intensive study, we are still discovering novel microbial species within this environment, each of which has the potential to provide an avenue for commercial microbiome modulation. The chicken gut truly represents an exhilarating challenge in turning new-found knowledge into new-won power to improve the health and wealth of poultry and people.
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