Integrating gut and IgA-coated microbiota to identify as a probiotic for enhancing feed efficiency in chickens.

This study explores the role of IgA-coated bacteria in improving feed efficiency in chickens, offering a novel perspective for probiotic screening. Chickens with high feed efficiency were found to have a greater abundance of Gram-positive bacteria, while low feed efficiency chickens exhibited higher levels of Gram-negative bacteria and potential pathogens. Through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and integrating analysis of cecal and IgA-coated microbiota, we precisely identified as a key genus linked to improved feed efficiency.

Synergy of genetics and lipid metabolism driving feed utilization efficiency in chickens.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a key indicator of feed efficiency, critical for enhancing the economic sustainability of poultry production. However, the genetic and metabolic regulatory mechanisms of RFI remain unclear. This study analyzed the genome, liver transcriptome, metabolome, and lipidome of hens with low and high feed efficiency (N = 60) from the previously established RFI divergent broiler lines (F15).

Single-cell RNA-seq offer new insights into the cell fate decision of the primordial germ cells.

The faithful production of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro opens a wide range of novel applications in reproductive biology and medicine. However, the reproducibility of PGCs culture conditions across different laboratories or breeds remains a challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to research the molecular dynamics that lead to the gradual establishment of cultured PGCs lines network.

Research note: effects of hyperpigmentation of the visceral peritoneum on body weight and selection method in Chinese yellow-feathered broilers.

We previously identified a dark blue appearance through the skin of abdomen, especially the colored chicken breeds, called hyperpigmentation of the visceral peritoneum (HVP) which characterized by intense pigmentation of connective tissue in the visceral peritoneum. The HVP has recently garnered increasing attention due to its negative impact on carcass appearance, and been an important concern in the poultry industry, especially for the Chinese yellow-feathered broilers. In this study, we measured the in vivo HVP at different time points, and analyzed the correlation between the HVP in vivo and postmortem.

A selection breeding pattern for sexually dimorphic breast plumage color in Guangxi Yao chickens.

The breast plumage color of Guangxi Yao chickens shows obvious sexual dimorphism, with roosters showing black and black with red, and hens displaying partridge and red. Black plumage in roosters is considered a sign of quality, necessitating the purification of plumage color. Here, we developed an effective method based on genetic variations within MC1R and plumage characteristics.

Fructose-enabled killing of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enteritidis by gentamicin: Insight from reprogramming metabolomics.

Salmonella enterica is a food-borne pathogen that poses a severe threat to both poultry production and human health. Antibiotics are critical for the initial treatment of bacterial infections. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics results in the rapid evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the discovery and development of new antibiotics are declining.

Variations in Coding Sequence Causing a Difference in Carotenoid Concentration in the Skin of Chinese Indigenous Chicken.

Carotenoid consumption decreases the risk of cancer, osteoporosis, or neurodegenerative diseases through interrupting the formation of free radicals. The deposition of carotenoids in chicken skin makes the skin color turn from white into yellow. The enzyme β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) plays a key role during the degradation process of carotenoids in skin.

B Lymphocyte Development in the Bursa of Fabricius of Young Broilers is Influenced by the Gut Microbiota.

Chickens have been used as a valuable and traditional model for studies on basic immunology. B lymphocytes were first identified in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) of broilers. The microbiota is important for immune system development and function.

Changes in antibiotic residues and the gut microbiota during ciprofloxacin administration throughout Silkie chicken development.

The use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic residues in livestock and poultry products, adversely affecting human health. Ciprofloxacin (CFX) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic shared between animals and humans that is useful in treatments besides infections. However, changes in the gut microbiota caused by CFX and the possible link with the elimination of CFX residues have not been investigated.

Including dominance effects in the prediction model through locus-specific weights on heterozygous genotypes can greatly improve genomic predictive abilities.

The dominance effect is considered to be a key factor affecting complex traits. However, previous studies have shown that the improvement of the model, including the dominance effect, is usually less than 1%. This study proposes a novel genomic prediction method called CADM, which combines additive and dominance genetic effects through locus-specific weights on heterozygous genotypes.

The Impact of Tributyrin on Performance and Intestinal Health of Broiler Chickens Post Coccidiosis Vaccination.

Coccidiosis is a major intestinal disease affecting broiler chickens. Tributyrin (TB) is a valid alternative to butyrate acid, which was associated with the improvement of performance and attenuation of intestinal inflammation in animal production. However, there are few reports on TB as a prophylactic treatment against coccidiosis in broilers.

Thymic T-Cell Production Is Associated With Changes in the Gut Microbiota in Young Chicks.

Increasing studies show that gut microbiota play a central role in immunity, although the impact of the microbiota on mediation of thymic T cells throughout life is not well understood. Chickens have been shown to be a valuable model for studying basic immunology. Here, we show that changes in the gut microbiota are associated with the development of thymic T cells in young chickens.

Integrative analysis of histomorphology, transcriptome and whole genome resequencing identified DIO2 gene as a crucial gene for the protuberant knob located on forehead in geese.

Background: During domestication, remarkable changes in behavior, morphology, physiology and production performance have taken place in farm animals. As one of the most economically important poultry, goose owns a unique appearance characteristic called knob, which is located at the base of the upper bill. However, neither the histomorphology nor the genetic mechanism of the knob phenotype has been revealed in geese.

Optimization of transfection conditions of chicken primordial germ cells.

To improve the transfection efficiency of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs), the present study evaluated the plasmid dosage and cell number on the efficiencies of three transfection reagents (Lipofectamine 2000, 3000 and LTX & Plus Reagent). PGCs was isolated from embryonic gonads of Huiyang bearded chicken. After 60 days of culture in vitro, the cells were transfected by using Lipofectamine transfection reagents with piggyBac vectors coding for the green fluorescence protein (GFP).

Transcriptome Response of Liver and Muscle in Heat-Stressed Laying Hens.

Exposure to high ambient temperature has detrimental effects on poultry welfare and production. Although changes in gene expression due to heat exposure have been well described for broiler chickens, knowledge of the effects of heat on laying hens is still relatively limited. In this study, we profiled the transcriptome for pectoralis major muscle ( = 24) and liver ( = 24), during a 4-week cyclic heating experiment performed on layers in the early phase of egg production.

Genetic Dissection of Growth Traits in a Unique Chicken Advanced Intercross Line.

The advanced intercross line (AIL) that is created by successive generations of pseudo-random mating after the F generation is a valuable resource, especially in agricultural livestock and poultry species, because it improves the precision of quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping compared with traditional association populations by introducing more recombination events. The growth traits of broilers have significant economic value in the chicken industry, and many QTLs affecting growth traits have been identified, especially on chromosomes 1, 4, and 27, albeit with large confidence intervals that potentially contain dozens of genes. To promote a better understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of growth trait differences, specifically body weight and bone development, in this study, we report a nine-generation AIL derived from two divergent outbred lines: High Quality chicken Line A (HQLA) and Huiyang Bearded (HB) chicken.

Genome diversity of Chinese indigenous chicken and the selective signatures in Chinese gamecock chicken.

Gamecock chickens are one of the earliest recorded birds in China, and have accumulated some unique morphological and behavioral signatures such as large body size, muscularity and aggressive behavior, whereby being excellent breeding materials and a good model for studying bird muscular development and behavior. In this study, we sequenced 126 chicken genomes from 19 populations, including four commercial chicken breeds that are commonly farmed in China, 13 nationwide Chinese typical indigenous chicken breeds (including two Chinese gamecock breeds), one red jungle fowl from Guangxi Province of China and three gamecock chickens from Laos. Combined with 31 published chicken genomes from three populations, a comparative genomics analysis was performed across 157 chickens.

Multiple ancestral haplotypes harboring regulatory mutations cumulatively contribute to a QTL affecting chicken growth traits.

In depth studies of quantitative trait loci (QTL) can provide insights to the genetic architectures of complex traits. A major effect QTL at the distal end of chicken chromosome 1 has been associated with growth traits in multiple populations. This locus was fine-mapped in a fifteen-generation chicken advanced intercross population including 1119 birds and explored in further detail using 222 sequenced genomes from 10 high/low body weight chicken stocks.

Effects of the DMRT1 genotype on the body weight and gut microbiota in the broiler chicken.

Intestinal microbiota is a critical determinant of growth and risk of metabolic diseases. Our previous studies showed that the locus rs16775833 within the DMRT1 gene is significantly associated with variation in the population structure of the gut microbiota, which is involved in determining the BW of the chicken. To assess the accuracy of correlation of rs16775833 located in the DMRT1 gene on microbial population and BW in birds, 2 genotypes GG and TT in the rs16775833 were identified in Chinese Yellow broiler breeders.

Food intake-related genes in chicken determined through combinatorial genome-wide association study and transcriptome analysis.

The chicken gizzard is the primary digestive and absorptive organ regulating food intake and metabolism. Body weight is a typical complex trait regulated by an interactive polygene network which is under the control of an interacting network of polygenes. To simplify these genotype-phenotype associations, the gizzard is a suitable target organ to preliminarily explore the mechanism underlying the regulation of chicken growth through controlled food intake.

High-Throughput Sequencing With the Preselection of Markers Is a Good Alternative to SNP Chips for Genomic Prediction in Broilers.

The choice of a genetic marker genotyping platform is important for genomic prediction in livestock and poultry. High-throughput sequencing can produce more genetic markers, but the genotype quality is lower than that obtained with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of genomic prediction between high-throughput sequencing and SNP chips in broilers.

An Analysis of Culling Patterns during the Breeding Cycle and Lifetime Production from the Aspect of Culling Reasons for Gilts and Sows in Southwest China.

To investigate culling patterns during the breeding cycle and lifetime production associated with culling reasons, 19,471 culling records were collected in southwest China. Lifetime pigs born alive (LPBA) and parity for culling reasons, and reason distribution at different parities and breeding cycle were analyzed. Sows culled for stress and death (SD), lameness (LA), common disease (CD), not being pregnant, return to estrus, and abortion (NP) had fewer than 20 LPBA ( < 0.

Methionine Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Responses via DNA Methylation in Macrophages.

Methionine (Met) is an essential and multifunctional nutrient in vertebrate diets. It is a precursor of -adenosylmethionine (SAM), the methyl donor for DNA methylation, which has an important role in the inflammatory responses. However, whether Met exerts anti-inflammatory effects by altering DNA methylation in macrophages is unclear.