Single-cell transcriptomics reveals diversity and conservation of chicken lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT: The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) is a critical model for immunology and a major agricultural species, yet a comprehensive single-cell census of its immune architecture is lacking. Here, we constructed a high-resolution single-cell transcriptome atlas of three primary immune organs (thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen) from chickens. Our analysis identified 24 distinct immune and stromal cell types, mapping their organ-specific distributions: B cells were predominantly localized to the bursa of Fabricius, while T cell subsets were enriched in the thymus. We delineated developmental trajectories and identified key transcription factors governing lineage commitment, including TCF12 for CD4⁺CD8⁺ T cells and SOX13 for T helper 2 cells. Further analysis revealed potential sexually dimorph

SUBMITTER: Liu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12934326 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature