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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2016 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Phytochemicals are non-nutritive, plant-derived chemicals, many with disease-preventing properties. A growing body of scientific evidence has demonstrated that many of the health-promoting activities of phytochemicals are mediated through their ability to improve host defense against microbial infections and tumors. During the last 10 years, our research has provided science-based evidence for the beneficial effects of certain phytochemicals on host innate and adaptive immunity. Many of these phytonutrients are now commercially used to increase poultry growth and reduce disease-associated losses. Furthermore, our latest study demonstrated that dietary phytonutrients influence the intestinal microbiome through “crosstalk” with the host immune system to maintain gut homeostasis and gut health. These studies collectively suggest that dietary feeding of broiler chickens with certain phytonutrients could be used to reduce the negative consequences of enteric diseases and enhance host immunity. Furthermore, with increasing governmental regulations on the use of antibiotics in poultry production, use of antibiotic alternatives like phytochemicals could mitigate the drug usage in animal production for sustainable animal agriculture. This presentation will discuss new strategies to enhance poultry growth and modulate innate immunity against enteric pathogens using dietary phytonutrients. |
