Search

Omics techniques, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, analyze entire sets of biological molecules to seek comprehensive knowledge on a particular phenotype. These approaches have been extensively utilized to identify both biomarkers and biological mechanisms for various physiological conditions in livestock and poultry. The purpose of this symposium was not only to focus on how recent omics technologies can be used to gather, integrate, and interpret data produced by various methodologies in poultry research, but also to highlight how omics and bioinformatics have increased our understanding of poultry meat quality problems and other complex traits. This Poultry Science Association symposium paper includes 5 sections that cover: 1) functional annotation of cis-regulatory elements in the genome informs genetic control of complex traits in poultry, 2) mass spectrometry for proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics, 3) proteomic approaches to investigate meat quality, 4) spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics studies of wooden breast disease, and 5) multiomics analyses on chicken meat quality and spaghetti meat. These topics provide insights into the molecular components that contribute to the structure, function, and dynamics of the underlying mechanisms influencing meat quality traits, including chicken breast myopathies. This information will ultimately contribute to improving the quality and composition of poultry products., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Broiler ascites syndrome (AS), is a nutritional and metabolic disease that occurs in fast-growing commercial broiler chickens. AS can cause poor growth and a significant increase in the rate of broiler deaths, which has resulted in serious economic losses to the poultry industry. The classic traditional Chinese medicine Qiling Jiaogulan Powder (QLJP) has been demonstrated to have a certain therapeutic effect on broiler AS. However, its pharmacological mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the multitarget action mechanism of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS based on network pharmacology analysis using a broiler AS model. First, all chemical components and targets of QLJP were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Targets related to broiler AS were further obtained through the GeneCards database and the NCBI Gene sub-database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Then, enrichment analyses were performed to predict the potential mechanisms of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS. Finally, the treatment effect of QLJP on AS was verified in a broiler AS model. Network pharmacology analysis generated 49 active ingredients and 167 core targets of QLJP, and a QLJP-single drug-target-disease network was successfully constructed. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the core targets have played major roles in the Cell cycle, FOXO signaling pathways, etc. We demonstrated that QLJP improved clinical and organ damage symptoms and significantly reduced the ascites heart index in broilers with AS induced by administration of high-energy, high-protein diets and high-sodium drinking water in a low-temperature environment. QLJP may regulate lung oxidative stress, the cell cycle and apoptosis by activating the FOXO3a signaling pathway to interfere with the occurrence and development of AS in broilers. QLJP administration may be a good clinical strategy for the prevention and treatment of broiler AS., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: With the younger onset age of female lower genital tract diseases, there are increasing demands for protecting organ and tissue structures to preserve fertility and, therefore, effective fertility-sparing treatments that cause minimal normal tissue damage and less adverse reactions are urgently needed., Objective: This study is aimed at reviewing information and achieving consensus on recommendations on the clinical applications of aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in female lower genital tract diseases., Methods: Members of the expert panel held online and in-person meetings to discuss and revise drafts created by the steering committee based on the literature review and the clinical experiences of the expert panel. Opinions of the experts were transcribed and discussed in detail to ensure that the consensus statement best reflects the current advances in the field and the experts' view., Results: After numerous rounds of meetings, experts unanimously agreed on the importance of ALA-PDT in the treatment of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), vaginal SIL, vulvar SIL, vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS), and condyloma acuminatumon (CA). Experts also reached consensus on the recommended treatment regimen and treatment methods., Conclusion: This consensus aimed to provide practical basis and guidance for the clinical applications of ALA-PDT in female lower genital tract diseases in China. Of note, this is the only expert consensus prepared by board-certified specialists in gynecology and obstetrics in China. More evidence-based clinical studies should be made to update and expand the current recommendations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The application of RNA sequencing in commercial poultry could facilitate a novel approach toward food safety with respect to identifying conditions in food production that mitigate transcription of genes associated with virulence and survivability. In this study, we evaluated the effects of disinfectant exposure on the transcriptomes of two field isolates of Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) isolated from a commercial broiler processing plant in 1992 and 2014. The isolates were each exposed separately to the following disinfectants commonly used in poultry processing: cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), acidified calcium hypochlorite (aCH), and peroxyacetic acid (PAA). Exposure times were 8 s with CPC to simulate a poultry processing dipping station or 90 min with aCH and PAA to simulate the chiller tank in a poultry processing plant at 4°C. Based on comparison with a publicly available annotated SH reference genome with 5,088 genes, 90 genes were identified as associated with virulence, pathogenicity, and resistance (VPR). Of these 90 VPR genes, 9 (10.0%), 28 (31.1%), and 1 (1.1%) gene were upregulated in SH 2014 and 21 (23.3%), 26 (28.9%), and 2 (2.2%) genes were upregulated in SH 2014 challenged with CPC, aCH, and PAA, respectively. This information and previously reported MICs for the three disinfectants with both SH isolates allow researchers to make more accurate recommendations regarding control methods of SH and public health considerations related to SH in food production facilities where SH has been isolated. For example, the MICs revealed that aCH is ineffective for SH inhibition at regulatory levels allowed for poultry processing and that aCH was ineffective for inhibiting SH growth and caused an upregulation of VPR genes.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis, which is responsible for morbidity and mortality in chickens. Gene expression patterns have previously been demonstrated to differ between chicken populations that are resistant vs. susceptible to bacterial infection, but little is currently known about gene expression response to APEC. Increased understanding of gene expression patterns associated with resistance will facilitate genetic selection to increase resistance to APEC. Male broiler chicks were vaccinated at 2 weeks of age and challenged with APEC at 4 weeks of age. Peripheral blood leukocytes were collected at 1 and 5 day post-infection. Lesions on the liver, pericardium, and air sacs were used to assign a mild or severe pathology status to non-vaccinated, challenged chicks. Ten treatment groups were therefore generated with a priori factors of vaccination, challenge, day post-infection, and the a posteriori factor of pathology status. Global transcriptomic response was evaluated using the Agilent 44K chicken microarray. APEC infection resulted in more up-regulation than down-regulation of differentially expressed genes. Immune response and metabolic processes were enriched with differentially expressed genes. Although vaccination significantly reduced lesions in challenged bird, there was no detectable effect of vaccination on gene expression. This study investigated the transcriptomic differences in host responses associated with mild vs. severe pathology, in addition to the effects of vaccination and challenge, thus revealing genes and networks associated with response to APEC and providing a foundation for future studies on, and genetic selection for, genetic resistance to APEC.

Antibiotics have long been used in animal production and medication to alleviate weaning stress. However, due to the concerns over food safety and human health, its use in animal production has been prohibited in many countries. Therefore, there is growing interest in developing alternative additives, such as a probiotic Lactobacillus. In this study, a proteomic approach coupled with biochemical analysis was applied to investigate alterations of proteomes in the small intestinal mucosa of weanling piglets after a 13-d period of feeding with supplemental L. fermentum I5007 or aureomycin (an antibiotic). We indentified 27 differentially expressed protein spots that participated in 7 key biological processes, including: 1) energy metabolism; 2) lipid metabolism; 3) protein synthesis; 4) cell structure and mobility; 5) cellular proliferation and apoptosis; 6) immune response; and 7) stress response and detoxification. Both L. fermentum I5007 and aureomycin decreased the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, stress response, and increased the expression of proteins related to detoxification in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of weanling piglets. L. fermentum I5007 exhibited additional effects in alleviating weaning stress syndrome by enhancing the levels of proteins involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell structure and mobility, protein synthesis, and immune response, thereby facilitating cellular proliferation and depressing apoptosis. In contrast, aureomycin reduced the levels of proteins related to energy metabolism, protein synthesis, cell structure, motility, and immunity. These novel findings have important implications for understanding the mechanisms whereby L. fermentum I5007 can improve the GI health of postweaning piglets.

Dietary supplementation of glutamine prevents intestinal dysfunction and atrophy in weanling piglets, but the underlying mechanism(s) are largely unknown. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that weaning or glutamine may modulate expression of genes that are crucial for intestinal metabolism and function. In Expt. 1, we obtained small intestine from 28-d-old pigs weaned at 21 d of age and from age-matched suckling piglets. In Expt. 2, piglets were weaned at 21 d of age and then had free access to diets supplemented with 1% L-glutamine (wt:wt) or isonitrogenous L-alanine (control). At d 28, we collected small intestine for biochemical and morphological measurements and microarray analysis of gene expression using the Operon Porcine Genome Oligo set. Early weaning resulted in increased (52-346%) expression of genes related to oxidative stress and immune activation but decreased (35-77%) expression of genes related to macronutrient metabolism and cell proliferation in the gut. Dietary glutamine supplementation increased intestinal expression (120-124%) of genes that are necessary for cell growth and removal of oxidants, while reducing (34-75%) expression of genes that promote oxidative stress and immune activation. Functionally, the glutamine treatment enhanced intestinal oxidative-defense capacity (indicated by a 29% increase in glutathione concentration), prevented jejunal atrophy, and promoted small intestine growth (+12%) and body weight gain (+19%) in weaned piglets. These findings reveal coordinate alterations of gene expression in response to weaning and aid in providing molecular mechanisms for the beneficial effect of dietary glutamine supplementation to improve nutrition status in young mammals.