601 research outputs found
The effects of continual consumption of origanum vulgare on liver transcriptomics
Pathogen control is re-emerging as a significant challenge to the health of both humans and animals. The livestock industry is in the process of massively replacing in-feed antibiotics with organic production friendly plant-based products. Nutrigenomics as a science of the effects of food constituents on gene expression is shedding more light on both benefits and detrimental side-effects of feed additive prolonged consumption on the host, indicating the need to understand the feedā host interactions and their influence on the host disease profile. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2% oregano powder supplementation on the liver gene expression in healthy male broilers from the hatch to 6 weeks of age. Deep RNAseq was performed on average 113.3 million paired and quality trimmed sequences per sample and four samples for the control and treatment each. The results demonstrate the severity of oregano effect on liver gene expression with substantial modifications in steroid hormone regulation, fat and carbohydrate metabolism alterations and strong influence on the host disease and function profile. Oregano supplementation was able to interfere with the transcriptional effects of a range of registered drugs and to significantly transcriptionally inhibit a range of cancer disease categories including liver cancer, and to modify fat and carbohydrate metabolism
Modulation of TCR signalling components occurs prior to positive selection and lineage commitment in iNKT cells
iNKT cells play a critical role in controlling the strength and character of adaptive and innate immune responses. Their unique functional characteristics are induced by a transcriptional program initiated by positive selection mediated by CD1d expressed by CD4+CD8+ (double positive, DP) thymocytes. Here, using a novel VĪ±14 TCR transgenic strain bearing greatly expanded numbers of CD24hiCD44loNKT cells, we examined transcriptional events in four immature thymic iNKT cell subsets. A transcriptional regulatory network approach identified transcriptional changes in proximal components of the TCR signalling cascade in DP NKT cells. Subsequently, positive and negative selection, and lineage commitment, occurred at the transition from DP NKT to CD4 NKT. Thus, this study introduces previously unrecognised steps in early NKT cell development, and separates the events associated with modulation of the T cell signalling cascade prior to changes associated with positive selection and lineage commitment. Ā© 2021, The Author(s). **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate āStuart Berzinsā is provided in this record*
Modulation of TCR signalling components occurs prior to positive selection and lineage commitment in iNKT cells
iNKT cells play a critical role in controlling the strength and character of adaptive and innate immune responses. Their unique functional characteristics are induced by a transcriptional program initiated by positive selection mediated by CD1d expressed by CD4+CD8+ (double positive, DP) thymocytes. Here, using a novel VĪ±14 TCR transgenic strain bearing greatly expanded numbers of CD24hiCD44loNKT cells, we examined transcriptional events in four immature thymic iNKT cell subsets. A transcriptional regulatory network approach identified transcriptional changes in proximal components of the TCR signalling cascade in DP NKT cells. Subsequently, positive and negative selection, and lineage commitment, occurred at the transition from DP NKT to CD4 NKT. Thus, this study introduces previously unrecognised steps in early NKT cell development and separates, the events associated with modulation of the T cell signalling cascade prior to changes associated with positive selection and lineage commitment
Poultry feeds carry diverse microbial communities that influence chicken intestinal microbiota colonisation and maturation
Microbial colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract of newly hatched chicks starts at hatch, seeded from the immediate hatching environment, and quickly results in dense colonisation. The role of ecological factors in gut colonisation has been extensively investigated, as well as the role of micro- and macronutrients in supporting and selecting for bacterial species highly adapted for utilising those nutrients. However, the microbial community contained in poultry feed and its influence on colonisation and maturation of gut microbiota has not been directly addressed. In this study, we compared the microbiota found in poultry feed, with the microbiota of ileum, cecum and excreta, to identify substantial overlap in core microbiotas of the compared groups. We then investigated the microbiota present in raw feedstuffs: meat and bone meal, wheat, corn, canola, barley, soybean, millrun, sorghum, poultry oil, oats, limestone and bloodmeal from four geographically distinct feedstuff suppliers. Each of the feedstuffs had diverse microbial communities. The meat and bone meal and bloodmeal samples had the most complex and distinct microbial populations. There was substantial overlap in the phylogenetic composition found in the grain and seed samples: barley, canola, corn, millrun, oats, sorghum, soybean meal and wheat. Issues related to methodology, viability of microbial communities in the gut and feed, and the implications for biosecurity are discussed
Precision glycan supplementation improves gut microbiota diversity, performance, and disease outbreak resistance in broiler chickens
The poultry industry contributes significantly to the global meat industry but faces many production challenges like high-density housing, welfare issues, and pathogenic infections. While antibiotics have commonly been used to treat many of these issues, they are being removed from poultry production globally due to increased microbial resistance. Precision glycans offer a viable alternative to antibiotics by modulating microbial metabolic pathways. In this study, we investigated the effects of precision glycan supplementation on productivity and gut microbiota in broilers. The experiment was conducted in a commercial setting using 32,400 male Ross chickens randomly divided into three sheds with 10,800 birds each. One shed with 12 pen replicates of 900 birds was used as control, while the other two with an equal number of replicates and birds were assigned to precision glycan supplementation. The treatment significantly improved the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio, with a significant modification in the abundance of several bacterial taxa in the caecum, ileum, and ileum mucosa microbial communities. There was increased richness and diversity in the caecum, with a reduction in Proteobacteria and an increase in Firmicutes. Richness remained unchanged in the ileum, with an increase in diversity and reduction in pathogenic genera like Clostridium and Escherichia-Shigella. Ileum mucosa showed a lower abundance of mucin degraders and an increased presence of next-generation probiotics. Supplemented birds showed a high level of disease resistance when the farm experienced an outbreak of infectious bronchitis, evidenced by lower mortality. Histological analysis confirmed improvements in the ileum and liver health, where the precision glycan supplementation reduced the area of congested sinusoids compared to the control group in the liver and significantly improved ileum intestinal morphology by increasing crypt depth and surface area. These results collectively suggest that precision glycans offer substantial benefits in poultry production by improving productivity, gut health, and disease resistance
Precision glycan supplementation: A strategy to improve performance and intestinal health of laying hens in highāstress commercial environments
In the dynamic world of animal production, many challenges arise in disease control,
animal welfare and the need to meet antibioticāfree demands. Emerging diseases
have a significant impact on the poultry industry. Managing gut microbiota is an
important determinant of poultry health and performance. Introducing precision
glycans as feed additives adds another dimension to this complex environment. The
glycans play pivotal roles in supporting gut health and immunological processes and
are likely to limit antibiotic usage while enhancing intestinal wellābeing and overall
poultry performance. This study explores precision glycan product as a feed additive
supplemented at a continuous dose of 900 g per tonne of feed, in a freeārange
production system on a large commercial farm. Forty thousand 17āweekāold pullets
were randomly allocated to one of two separated sections of the production shed,
with individual silos and eggācollecting belts. The flock performance, gut microbiota
and its functionality were analysed throughout the laying cycle until 72 weeks of
age. The results demonstrated that introducing precision glycans improved a range
of performance indicators, including reduced cumulative mortality, especially during
a major smothering event, where the birds pile up until they suffocate. There was
also significantly increased henāhoused egg production, reduced gut dysbiosis score
and undigested feed, increased number of goblet cells and improved feed conversion
ratio. Additionally, microbiota analysis revealed significant changes in the composition
of the gizzard, ileum content, ileum mucosa, and caecal and cloacal regions.
Overall, the findings suggest that precision glycans have the potential to enhance
poultry egg production in challenging farming environments
Transcriptome analysis of pigeon milk production - role of cornification and triglyceride synthesis genes
BACKGROUND : The pigeon crop is specially adapted to produce milk that is fed to newly hatched young. The process of pigeon milk production begins when the germinal cell layer of the crop rapidly proliferates in response to prolactin, which results in a mass of epithelial cells that are sloughed from the crop and regurgitated to the young. We proposed that the evolution of pigeon milk built upon the ability of avian keratinocytes to accumulate intracellular neutral lipids during the cornification of the epidermis. However, this cornification process in the pigeon crop has not been characterised. RESULTS: We identified the epidermal differentiation complex in the draft pigeon genome scaffold and found that, like the chicken, it contained beta-keratin genes. These beta-keratin genes can be classified, based on sequence similarity, into several clusters including feather, scale and claw keratins. The cornified cells of the pigeon crop express several cornification-associated genes including cornulin, S100-A9 and A16-like, transglutaminase 6-like and the pigeon \u27lactating\u27 crop-specific annexin cp35. Beta-keratins play an important role in \u27lactating\u27 crop, with several claw and scale keratins up-regulated. Additionally, transglutaminase 5 and differential splice variants of transglutaminase 4 are up-regulated along with S100-A10. CONCLUSIONS: This study of global gene expression in the crop has expanded our knowledge of pigeon milk production, in particular, the mechanism of cornification and lipid production. It is a highly specialised process that utilises the normal keratinocyte cellular processes to produce a targeted nutrient solution for the young at a very high turnover
Pioneering gut health improvements in piglets with phytogenic feed additives
This research investigates the effects of phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) on the growth performance, gut microbial community,
and microbial metabolic functions in weaned piglets via a combined 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomics
approach. A controlled trial was conducted using 200 pigs to highlight the significant influence of PFAs on gut microbiota
dynamics. Notably, the treatment group revealed an increased gut microbiota diversity, as measured with the Shannon and
Simpson indices. The increase in diversity is accompanied by an increase in beneficial bacterial taxa, such as Roseburia,
Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella, and a decline in potential pathogens like Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Campylobacter.
Shotgun sequencing at the species level confirmed these findings. This modification in microbial profile was coupled with
an altered profile of microbial metabolic pathways, suggesting a reconfiguration of microbial function under PFA influence.
Significant shifts in overall microbial community structure by week 8 demonstrate PFA treatmentās temporal impact.
Histomorphological examination unveiled improved gut structure in PFA-treated piglets. The results of this study indicate
that the use of PFAs as dietary supplements can be an effective strategy, augmenting gut microbiota diversity, reshaping
microbial function, enhancing gut structure, and optimising intestinal health of weaned piglets providing valuable implications
for swine production.
Key points
ā¢ PFAs significantly diversify the gut microbiota in weaned piglets, aiding balance.
ā¢ Changes in gut structure due to PFAs indicate improved resistance to weaning stress.
ā¢ PFAs show potential to ease weaning stress, offering a substitute for antibiotics in piglet diets
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens probiotics mix supplementation in a broiler leaky gut model
The supplementation of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) has been banned in many
countries because of the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in poultry products and
the environment. Probiotics have been broadly studied and demonstrated as a promising AGP
substitute. Our study is centred on the effects of a multi-strain Bacillus-based probiotic product
on broiler production performance and gut microbial profile in a dexamethasone-induced leaky
gut challenge. Two hundred and fifty-six broiler chicks were hatched and randomly assigned into
four groups (wheat-soybean meal basal diet (BD) = non-supplemented control (C), BD supplemented
with dexamethasone in week 4 (CD), BD containing a probiotic from day one (P), and BD containing
a probiotic from day one and supplemented with dexamethasone during challenge week 4 (PD)).
The production performance and caecal, gizzard, jejunal lumen and jejunal mucosa swab microbiota
were studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The Bacillus probiotic product significantly improved
production performance and altered caecal gut microbiota (p ā¤ 0.05), but no significant impact on
microbiota was observed in other gut sections
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