Project description:The aim of this study was to explore whether, and if so, how Bacillus subtilis KC1 can enhance the growth performance of broilers that have been adversely affected by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection. A total of 96 1-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group (basal diet), the MG group (basal diet + MG challenge), the Bacillus subtilis KC1 group (basal diet + Bacillus subtilis KC1 supplementation), the Bacillus subtilis KC1 + MG group (basal diet + Bacillus subtilis KC1 supplementation + MG challenge). The trial lasted 42 days, and the results showed that the MG group had significantly reduced body weight and average daily gain, as well as increased feed conversion ratio of broilers, compared to the control group. Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis KC1 significantly improved the growth performance of MG-infected broilers. In addition, dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis KC1 significantly improved oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers, characterized by increased superoxide dismutase levels and reduced levels of malondialdehyde, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, both metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses indicated that MG infection markedly disrupted amino acid metabolism in broilers, whereas Bacillus subtilis KC1 supplementation alleviated the abnormal amino acid metabolism caused by MG infection. These results suggested that Bacillus subtilis KC1 may alleviate the poor growth performance caused by MG infection in broilers by improving amino acid metabolism.
Project description:To investigate genes involved in abdominal fat deposition and fat metabolism of broilers with dw gene, we used highthroughput sequencing to detect the differentially expressed genes in livers and abdominal fats of dwarf broilers which were fed with a normal diet and a high-fat diet, respectively. The broilers began to fed with a normal or a high-fat diet in 1-week-old. After 7 weeks, the broilers were be executed and the livers and abdominal fats were used to extracted total RNAs. Finally, the total RNAs were be sequenced used BGISEQ-500 platform.
Project description:To investigate genes involved in abdominal fat deposition and fat metabolism of broilers, we used highthroughput sequencing to detect the differentially expressed genes in livers and abdominal fats of broilers which were fed with a normal diet and a high-fat diet, respectively. The broilers began to fed with a normal or a high-fat diet in 1-week-old. After 7 weeks, the broilers were be executed and the livers and abdominal fats were used to extracted total RNAs. Finally, the total RNAs were be sequenced used BGISEQ-500 platform.
Project description:This study investigated the transcriptomic changes in the jejunum and pancreas of broiler chickens fed a diet supplemented with sugarcane bagasse (SB) to elucidate the physiological response of broilers to insoluble dietary fiber. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (significant threshold at absolute log2 (fold change) ≥ 1 and P < 0.05) and functionally annotated using gene ontology (GO; gene counts ≥ 2 and P < 0.05 as significant) analysis. Compared with the control broilers, SB-fed broilers presented significantly (P < 0.05) greater weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio at the end of the grower phase. A total of 41 (18 upregulated and 23 downregulated) jejunal and 125 (36 upregulated and 89 downregulated) pancreatic DEGs were identified from the differential expression analysis. The SB-fed broilers showed coordinated upregulation of DEGs involved in nutrient transport (TRPM3, SLC16A4, FFAR4, and RBP4A), epithelial integrity (WNT9A, GAL3ST2, TFF3, and AGR2), immune activation (DUOX2 and MHCY6), and growth regulation (POU1F1). Gene ontology enrichment further revealed significant activation of biological processes, including maintenance of the gastrointestinal epithelium, gastric acid secretion, sodium ion transport, and response to oxidative stress, in the pancreatic tissue. These findings reveal that SB supplementation triggers beneficial, tissue-specific transcriptomic adaptations that support nutrient uptake, epithelial repair, immune response, and oxidative balance, thereby enhancing growth. This study offers new insights into how broilers respond to dietary fiber supplementation at the transcriptomic level, supporting the strategic use of SB in sustainable poultry production.
Project description:Despite the existence of a number of studies investigating the effect of insect meal on the growth performance of broilers, knowledge about the metabolic effects of insect meal in broilers is still scarce. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of partial replacement of soybean meal with Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae meal on the liver transcriptome, the plasma metabolome and the cecal microbiome in broilers. For the study, 72 male one-day-old Cobb 500 broilers were divided into three groups (n = 12) and fed three different diets with either 0% (HI0), 7.5% (HI7.5) or 15% (HI15) defatted HI meal for 35 d. While body weight (BW) gain, feed intake, and feed:gain ratio did not differ between groups, breast muscle weight, carcass yield and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of 12 amino acids were higher in group HI15 than in group HI0 (P > 0.05). Indicators of α-diversity (Chao1 and Observed) in the cecal digesta were higher in groups HI15 and HI7.5 than in group HI0 (P < 0.05). The abundance of 5 families and 18 genera, all of which belonged to the Firmicutes phylum, in the cecal digesta differed among groups (P < 0.05). Concentrations of butyric acid, valeric acid and isobutyric acid in the cecal digesta were lower in group HI15 than in the other two groups (P > 0.05), whereas those of total and other short-chain fatty acids were not different between groups. Liver transcriptomics revealed a total of 70 and 61 differentially expressed transcripts between groups HI15 vs. HI0 and between groups HI7.5 vs HI0, respectively, (P > 0.05). Targeted metabolomics identified 138 metabolites, most of which were triglyceride species, being different between the three groups (FDR < 0.05). According to this study, dietary inclusion of HI larvae meal has no detrimental impact but increases breast muscle weight and carcass weight in broilers suggesting that HI larvae meal can be recommended as a sustainable alternative protein source for broilers.