Extensive evidence demonstrates that a healthy and well-balanced gut microbiota profoundly influences host nutrient absorption,immunity,and metabolism.Unlike mammals,early microbiota colonization in commercial poultry...Extensive evidence demonstrates that a healthy and well-balanced gut microbiota profoundly influences host nutrient absorption,immunity,and metabolism.Unlike mammals,early microbiota colonization in commercial poultry largely depends on the environment as chicks hatch in incubators under a relatively sterile environment(egg and incubator sterilization)without maternal-offspring interaction.The early gut microbiota remains unsaturated,providing a critical window for modulation and influencing the subsequent microbiota succession,which may have long-term health outcomes.Microbiota transplantation(MT)involves transferring the microbiota from a donor to a recipient to modulate the recipient’s microbiota toward a desired state.Successfully applied in human medicine,MT is also gaining attention in poultry production to modulate intestinal health.This review comprehensively explores factors affecting MT,its mechanisms,and its potential applications in chickens,providing insights for further research and commercial use.展开更多
Background Hatch weight(HW)affects broiler growth and low HW(LHW)often leads to suboptimal performance.Sodium butyrate(SB)has been shown to promote growth through enhanced intestinal health.This study investi-gated ho...Background Hatch weight(HW)affects broiler growth and low HW(LHW)often leads to suboptimal performance.Sodium butyrate(SB)has been shown to promote growth through enhanced intestinal health.This study investi-gated how broilers with different HW responded to in ovo SB injection and whether SB could enhance gut health and performance in LHW chicks.Ross 308 broiler eggs were injected on incubation d 12 with physiological saline(control)or SB at 0.1%(SB1),0.3%(SB3),or 0.5%(SB5).Post-hatch,male chicks from each treatment were categorized as high HW(HHW)or LHW and assigned to 8 groups in a 4×2 factorial design.Production parameters were recorded periodically.Intestinal weight,length,and gene expression related to gut barrier function and immune response were examined on d 14 and 42.Cecal microbiota dynamics and predicted functionality were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results SB treatments did not affect hatchability.HHW-control group exhibited consistently better weight gain and FCR than LHW-control group.SB dose-dependently influenced performance and gut health in both HW catego-ries,with greater effects in LHW broilers at 0.3%.LHW-SB3 group attained highest body weight on d 42,exceeding controls but not significantly differing from HHW-SB3 group.LHW-SB3 group showed upregulation of gut-barrier genes CLDN1 in ileum,TJP1 in jejunum and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in both jejunum and ileum on d 14.Addi-tionally,LHW-SB3 group upregulated mucin-producing MUC6 gene in ileum,while HHW-SB5 group increased pro-inflammatory IL-12p40 cytokine in caecum on d 42.LHW-SB3 group demonstrated shorter relative intestinal lengths,while HHW-SB5 had longer lengths.HHW-control group had higher bacterial diversity and growth-promoting bacte-ria while LHW-control group harbored the potential pathogen Helicobacter.SB reshaped gut microbiota biodiversity,composition,and predicted metabolic pathways in both HW categories.The LHW-SB3 group exhibited highest alpha diversity on d 14 and most beneficial bacteria at all timepoints.HHW-SB5 group presented increased pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella and Campylobacter on d 42.Conclusions HW significantly affects subsequent performance and SB has differential effects based on HW.LHW chicks benefited more from 0.3%SB,showing improvements in growth,intestinal development,health,and gut microbiota characteristics.展开更多
Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS), belonging to the class of functional marine oligosaccharides, are low-molecular polymers linked by β-1,4-mannuronic acid(M) and α-1,4-guluronic acid(G), which could be classically obt...Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS), belonging to the class of functional marine oligosaccharides, are low-molecular polymers linked by β-1,4-mannuronic acid(M) and α-1,4-guluronic acid(G), which could be classically obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of alginate. With low viscosity and good water solubility, as well as anti-oxidant, immune regulation, anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory activities, AOS have been widely used in medical science and functional food, green agriculture and other fields. As new bio-feed additives, AOS have broad potential applications in animal husbandry. In this review, the sources of alginate, chemical structure and preparation methods of AOS, and their biological activities and application in livestock and poultry are summarized. We expect this review could contribute to lay a foundation of application and further research for AOS in livestock and poultry.展开更多
Background： Muscle growth depends on the fusion of proliferate satellite cells to existing myofibers. We reported previously that 0-14 day intermittent feeding led to persistent retardation in myofiber hypertrophy. H...Background： Muscle growth depends on the fusion of proliferate satellite cells to existing myofibers. We reported previously that 0-14 day intermittent feeding led to persistent retardation in myofiber hypertrophy. However, how satellite cells respond to such nutritional insult has not been adequately elucidated. Results： One-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to control （Con, ad libitum feeding）, intermittent feeding （IF, feed provided on alternate days） and re-feeding （RF, 2 days ad libitum feeding after 12 days of intermittent feeding） groups. Chickens were killed on Day 15 and satellite cells were isolated. When cultured, satellite cells from the IF group demonstrated significant retardation in proliferation and differentiation potential, while RF partly restored the proliferation rate and differentiation potential of the satellite cells. Significant up-regulation of insulin like growth factor I receptor （IGF-IR） （P〈O.05） and thyroid hormone receptor o （TRo） （P〈O.05）, and down-regulation of growth hormone receptor （GHR） （P〈O.01） and IGF-I （P〈O.01） mRNA expression was observed in freshly isolated IF satellite cells when compared with Con cells. In RF cells, the mRNA expression of IGF-I was higher （P〈O.05） and of TRa was lower （P〈O.01） than in IF cells, suggesting that RF restored the mRNA expression of TRa and IGF-I, but not of GHR and IGF-IR. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio tended to increase in the IF group, which was reversed in the RF group （P〈O.05）, indicating that RF reduced the pro-apoptotic influence of iF. Moreover, no significant effect of T3 was detected on cell survival in IF cells compared with Con （P〈O.O01） or RF （P〈O.05） cells. Conclusions： These data suggest that early-age feed restriction inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells, induces changes in mRNA expression of the GH/IGF-I and thyroid hormone receptors in satellite cells, as well as blunted sensitivity of satellite cells to T3, and that RF partially reverses these effects. Thus, a moderate nutritional strategy for feed restriction should be chosen in early chick rearing systems.展开更多
Intra-flock body weight(BW)variability in broilers increases production costs,as underperforming chicks often show suboptimal gut development and performance.Increasing grain particle size and dietary fiber content ha...Intra-flock body weight(BW)variability in broilers increases production costs,as underperforming chicks often show suboptimal gut development and performance.Increasing grain particle size and dietary fiber content has been shown to improve digestive efficiency and intestinal health.This study investigated whether dietary inclusion of coarse corn(CC)and oat hulls(OH)could improve gut health and reduce the performance gap between lowand high-BW(LBW and HBW)broilers.On d 7,1400 Ross 308 male broilers were categorized as LBW or HBW,with 504 LBW chicks assigned to 4 isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with 10% fine corn(LBWC),7%CC with 3% fine corn(LBW+CC),3%OH with 10% fine corn(LBW+OH),or 7%CC and 3%OH(LBW+CO).High BW chicks received a 10% fine corn diet(HBWC).Each group had 6 replicates with 21 chicks per pen.The HBWC group showed the highest BW at each timepoint(P<0.05).By d 38,LBW+OH chicks had significantly reduced the weight difference with HBWC chicks and significantly outperformed LBWC chicks(P<0.001),whereas other groups showed intermediate values.Coarse corn and OH,individually or combined,reduced the relative plasma FITC-dextrann concentration d 14(P=0.014)and increased gizzard weights on d 21 and 38(P<0.05)as compared with LBWC group.The LBW+OH group showed increased pancreas relative weight on d 21(P=0.005,vs.HBWC)and villus height(P=0.042,vs.LBWC)on d 38.Additionally,LBW+OH group reduced isobutyrate and isovalerate levels in cecum(P<0.05,vs.HBWC and LBWC)on d 21,and upregulated ileal genes related to gut barrier function(CLDN1,vs.HBWC and LBWC;CLDN4,vs.HBWC;CLDN5,vs.LBWC),amino acid and glucose transporters(SLC15A1 and SLC1A4,vs.HBWC and LBWC),and immune function(NOS2,vs.HBWC and LBWC;TLR4,vs.HBWC)on d 14(P<0.05),and sodiumphosphate transporter SLC34A2(P=0.049,vs.HBWC)on d 38.LBW+CC birds upregulated SLC15A1(vs.HBWC and LBWC)on d 38(P<0.001).Lactobacillus was enriched in the cecum of HBWC birds,while Escherichia-Shigella was abundant in LBWC birds on d 14,with CC and OH promoting beneficial bacterial shifts in LBW groups.Overall,incorporating structural components into diets,particularly 3%OH,enhanced gastrointestinal development,intestinal integrity,and growth performance in LBW broilers.These improvements reduced disparities in BW between LBW and HBW birds,thereby contributing to more uniform flock performance at slaughter age.展开更多
基金Haoran Zhao would like to acknowledge the support provided by China Scholarship Council(CSC)of the Ministry of Education,P.R.China(CSC No.202206850006)supported by funding from VLAIO with project number(HBC.2023.0172),HEPPY Markers-Establishment of biomarkers of Health and Eubiosis in Pigs and Poultry.
文摘Extensive evidence demonstrates that a healthy and well-balanced gut microbiota profoundly influences host nutrient absorption,immunity,and metabolism.Unlike mammals,early microbiota colonization in commercial poultry largely depends on the environment as chicks hatch in incubators under a relatively sterile environment(egg and incubator sterilization)without maternal-offspring interaction.The early gut microbiota remains unsaturated,providing a critical window for modulation and influencing the subsequent microbiota succession,which may have long-term health outcomes.Microbiota transplantation(MT)involves transferring the microbiota from a donor to a recipient to modulate the recipient’s microbiota toward a desired state.Successfully applied in human medicine,MT is also gaining attention in poultry production to modulate intestinal health.This review comprehensively explores factors affecting MT,its mechanisms,and its potential applications in chickens,providing insights for further research and commercial use.
基金financially supported article publication charges under the program"Regional Initiative of Excellence"(RID/SP/0017/2024/01)funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 955374。
文摘Background Hatch weight(HW)affects broiler growth and low HW(LHW)often leads to suboptimal performance.Sodium butyrate(SB)has been shown to promote growth through enhanced intestinal health.This study investi-gated how broilers with different HW responded to in ovo SB injection and whether SB could enhance gut health and performance in LHW chicks.Ross 308 broiler eggs were injected on incubation d 12 with physiological saline(control)or SB at 0.1%(SB1),0.3%(SB3),or 0.5%(SB5).Post-hatch,male chicks from each treatment were categorized as high HW(HHW)or LHW and assigned to 8 groups in a 4×2 factorial design.Production parameters were recorded periodically.Intestinal weight,length,and gene expression related to gut barrier function and immune response were examined on d 14 and 42.Cecal microbiota dynamics and predicted functionality were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results SB treatments did not affect hatchability.HHW-control group exhibited consistently better weight gain and FCR than LHW-control group.SB dose-dependently influenced performance and gut health in both HW catego-ries,with greater effects in LHW broilers at 0.3%.LHW-SB3 group attained highest body weight on d 42,exceeding controls but not significantly differing from HHW-SB3 group.LHW-SB3 group showed upregulation of gut-barrier genes CLDN1 in ileum,TJP1 in jejunum and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in both jejunum and ileum on d 14.Addi-tionally,LHW-SB3 group upregulated mucin-producing MUC6 gene in ileum,while HHW-SB5 group increased pro-inflammatory IL-12p40 cytokine in caecum on d 42.LHW-SB3 group demonstrated shorter relative intestinal lengths,while HHW-SB5 had longer lengths.HHW-control group had higher bacterial diversity and growth-promoting bacte-ria while LHW-control group harbored the potential pathogen Helicobacter.SB reshaped gut microbiota biodiversity,composition,and predicted metabolic pathways in both HW categories.The LHW-SB3 group exhibited highest alpha diversity on d 14 and most beneficial bacteria at all timepoints.HHW-SB5 group presented increased pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella and Campylobacter on d 42.Conclusions HW significantly affects subsequent performance and SB has differential effects based on HW.LHW chicks benefited more from 0.3%SB,showing improvements in growth,intestinal development,health,and gut microbiota characteristics.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFD0500501)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772641)the Basic Science and Research Funding of Institute of Animal Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China (2018-YWF-YB-11)。
文摘Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS), belonging to the class of functional marine oligosaccharides, are low-molecular polymers linked by β-1,4-mannuronic acid(M) and α-1,4-guluronic acid(G), which could be classically obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of alginate. With low viscosity and good water solubility, as well as anti-oxidant, immune regulation, anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory activities, AOS have been widely used in medical science and functional food, green agriculture and other fields. As new bio-feed additives, AOS have broad potential applications in animal husbandry. In this review, the sources of alginate, chemical structure and preparation methods of AOS, and their biological activities and application in livestock and poultry are summarized. We expect this review could contribute to lay a foundation of application and further research for AOS in livestock and poultry.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Project No. U0931004)the Sino-German Cooperation in Agriculture (Project No. 28/04-05CHN7 2010–2011)
文摘Background： Muscle growth depends on the fusion of proliferate satellite cells to existing myofibers. We reported previously that 0-14 day intermittent feeding led to persistent retardation in myofiber hypertrophy. However, how satellite cells respond to such nutritional insult has not been adequately elucidated. Results： One-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to control （Con, ad libitum feeding）, intermittent feeding （IF, feed provided on alternate days） and re-feeding （RF, 2 days ad libitum feeding after 12 days of intermittent feeding） groups. Chickens were killed on Day 15 and satellite cells were isolated. When cultured, satellite cells from the IF group demonstrated significant retardation in proliferation and differentiation potential, while RF partly restored the proliferation rate and differentiation potential of the satellite cells. Significant up-regulation of insulin like growth factor I receptor （IGF-IR） （P〈O.05） and thyroid hormone receptor o （TRo） （P〈O.05）, and down-regulation of growth hormone receptor （GHR） （P〈O.01） and IGF-I （P〈O.01） mRNA expression was observed in freshly isolated IF satellite cells when compared with Con cells. In RF cells, the mRNA expression of IGF-I was higher （P〈O.05） and of TRa was lower （P〈O.01） than in IF cells, suggesting that RF restored the mRNA expression of TRa and IGF-I, but not of GHR and IGF-IR. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio tended to increase in the IF group, which was reversed in the RF group （P〈O.05）, indicating that RF reduced the pro-apoptotic influence of iF. Moreover, no significant effect of T3 was detected on cell survival in IF cells compared with Con （P〈O.O01） or RF （P〈O.05） cells. Conclusions： These data suggest that early-age feed restriction inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells, induces changes in mRNA expression of the GH/IGF-I and thyroid hormone receptors in satellite cells, as well as blunted sensitivity of satellite cells to T3, and that RF partially reverses these effects. Thus, a moderate nutritional strategy for feed restriction should be chosen in early chick rearing systems.
基金funded by the MONOGUTHEALTH projectsupported through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks grant(agreement no.955374)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
文摘Intra-flock body weight(BW)variability in broilers increases production costs,as underperforming chicks often show suboptimal gut development and performance.Increasing grain particle size and dietary fiber content has been shown to improve digestive efficiency and intestinal health.This study investigated whether dietary inclusion of coarse corn(CC)and oat hulls(OH)could improve gut health and reduce the performance gap between lowand high-BW(LBW and HBW)broilers.On d 7,1400 Ross 308 male broilers were categorized as LBW or HBW,with 504 LBW chicks assigned to 4 isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with 10% fine corn(LBWC),7%CC with 3% fine corn(LBW+CC),3%OH with 10% fine corn(LBW+OH),or 7%CC and 3%OH(LBW+CO).High BW chicks received a 10% fine corn diet(HBWC).Each group had 6 replicates with 21 chicks per pen.The HBWC group showed the highest BW at each timepoint(P<0.05).By d 38,LBW+OH chicks had significantly reduced the weight difference with HBWC chicks and significantly outperformed LBWC chicks(P<0.001),whereas other groups showed intermediate values.Coarse corn and OH,individually or combined,reduced the relative plasma FITC-dextrann concentration d 14(P=0.014)and increased gizzard weights on d 21 and 38(P<0.05)as compared with LBWC group.The LBW+OH group showed increased pancreas relative weight on d 21(P=0.005,vs.HBWC)and villus height(P=0.042,vs.LBWC)on d 38.Additionally,LBW+OH group reduced isobutyrate and isovalerate levels in cecum(P<0.05,vs.HBWC and LBWC)on d 21,and upregulated ileal genes related to gut barrier function(CLDN1,vs.HBWC and LBWC;CLDN4,vs.HBWC;CLDN5,vs.LBWC),amino acid and glucose transporters(SLC15A1 and SLC1A4,vs.HBWC and LBWC),and immune function(NOS2,vs.HBWC and LBWC;TLR4,vs.HBWC)on d 14(P<0.05),and sodiumphosphate transporter SLC34A2(P=0.049,vs.HBWC)on d 38.LBW+CC birds upregulated SLC15A1(vs.HBWC and LBWC)on d 38(P<0.001).Lactobacillus was enriched in the cecum of HBWC birds,while Escherichia-Shigella was abundant in LBWC birds on d 14,with CC and OH promoting beneficial bacterial shifts in LBW groups.Overall,incorporating structural components into diets,particularly 3%OH,enhanced gastrointestinal development,intestinal integrity,and growth performance in LBW broilers.These improvements reduced disparities in BW between LBW and HBW birds,thereby contributing to more uniform flock performance at slaughter age.
