Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research
Project Number: 6022-32420-001-026-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 30, 2024
End Date: Jun 29, 2027
Objective:
1. Determine divergence between high and low antibody selected lines of chickens at enteric level in neuroendocrine factors with known roles in affecting pathogen growth.
2. Identify gut microbial global functional capacity restrictive of pathogen colonization.
3. Determine protective effect of high/low antibody chicken-derived microbiota transplant into common broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella or Campylobacter spp.
4. Identification of host-microbial dynamics predictive of broiler chicken susceptibility or resilience to foodborne pathogen colonization.
Approach:
The development of antibiotic-alternative poultry production strategies that minimize foodborne pathogen presence in the pre-harvest stage is a major focus at the USDA-ARS and West Virginia University, the combined efforts of which can increase research novelty and productivity. Studies have demonstrated a clear link between neuroendocrine pathways, such as the serotonergic system, and host immunity. Likewise, host immunity and neurochemical concentrations have been shown as possible targets in the control of Campylobacter and Salmonella colonization. Hence, the utilization of chicken lines that naturally diverge in both intestinal immunity and neurochemical profiles could unlock the identification of specific microbial taxa or consortia that could be used as probiotics to improve food safety at the pre-harvest stage of broiler chicken production. No study to date has identified specific probiotics that leverage avian host enteric mucosal antibody production and neurochemical pathways to reduce foodborne pathogen carriage. The development of probiotics that reduce avian stress while enhancing immunity could offer the poultry industry novel antibiotic alternative solutions for countering the impact of known stress events during pre-harvest that influence susceptibility to foodborne pathogen colonization. We will investigate how established lines of chickens that diverge in blood antibody titer may serve as a robust source of novel bacterial probiotic strains ultimately reduce foodborne pathogen carriage throughout pre-harvest stage.
To achieve our goal we will utilize a highly unique line of chickens, which have were developed and maintained over the last three decades, selected for divergence in blood antibody titers. Intestinal concentrations of mucosal antibodies will be determined in conjunction with plasma titers to confirm divergence at both gut and systemic level. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography will be utilized to determine enteric and systemic neurochemical concentrations. Whole shotgun metagenomic sequencing as well as bacterial metatranscriptomics will be used in conjunction with classical microbiological techniques to first characterize the microbial taxa to the species and strain levels at both compositional and functional levels, and to ultimately identify and isolate bacterial taxa useable as probiotics. Identified probiotics will be carried forward into broiler chicken trials both at the outset of hatch and in later life to assess protective effects against Salmonella and/or Campylobacter jejuni challenge in the presence or absence of a pre-harvest relevant stressor. It is anticipated that a bacterial probiotic, or probiotic cocktail mix, will be generated from this project that can provide significant benefit to the poultry industry.
ARS SY will provide expertise and resources for the analysis of stress neuroendocrine markers including serotonin, and perform microbiological work including preparation and analysis of Salmonella. Cooperator will perform bird trials using the lines of chickens selected for divergence in antibody titers.
