Project description:The poultry production chain is consolidated in the market and is constantly advancing. However, it faces challenges related to climate change, such as the increase in the frequency and intensity of high temperatures that affect animal production systems. The objective of this work was to identify the impact of continuous heat stress on the blood serum of 75-week-old Lohmann White laying hens using the shotgun proteomics strategy.
Project description:Since March 2013, three waves of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus have been detected in China. To investigate virus transmission within and across epidemic waves, we used surveillance data and whole-genome analysis of viruses sampled in Guangdong during 2013-2015. We observed a geographic shift of human A(H7N9) infections from the second to the third waves. Live poultry market interventions were undertaken in epicenter cities; however, spatial phylogenetic analysis indicated that the third-wave outbreaks in central Guangdong most likely resulted from local virus persistence rather than introduction from elsewhere. Although the number of clinical cases in humans declined by 35% from the second to the third waves, the genetic diversity of third-wave viruses in Guangdong increased. Our results highlight the epidemic risk to a region reporting comparatively few A(H7N9) cases. Moreover, our results suggest that live-poultry market interventions cannot completely halt A(H7N9) virus persistence and dissemination.
Project description:The non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg is a major foodborne pathogen primarily transmitted to humans through contaminated poultry products. Current control measures emphasize novel approaches to mitigate Salmonella Heidelberg colonization in poultry and the contamination of poultry products, thereby reducing its transmission to humans. This study highlight that commensal E. coli 47-1826 can potentially be used to control of S. Heidelberg 18-9079 in poultry
Project description:Live animal markets (LAMs) are an essential source of food and trade in Latin American countries; however, they can also serve as 'hotbeds' for the emergence and potential spillover of avian influenza viruses (AIV). Despite extensive knowledge of AIV in Asian LAMs, little is known about the prevalence South American LAMs. To fill this gap in knowledge, active surveillance was carried out at the major LAM in Medellin, Colombia between February and September 2015. During this period, overall prevalence in the market was 2.67% and a North American origin H11N2 AIV most similar to a virus isolated from Chilean shorebirds asymptomatically spread through multiple bird species in the market resulting in 17.0% positivity at peak of infection. Phenotypically, the H11 viruses displayed no known molecular markers associated with increased virulence in birds or mammals, had α2,3-sialic acid binding preference, and caused minimal replication in vitro and little morbidity in vivo. However, the Colombian H11N2 virus replicated and transmitted effectively in chickens explaining the spread throughout the market. Genetic similarity to H11 viruses isolated from North and South American shorebirds suggest that the LAM occurrence may have resulted from a wild bird to domestic poultry spillover event. The ability to spread in domestic poultry as well as potential for human infection by H11 viruses highlight the need for enhanced AIV surveillance in South America in both avian species and humans.
Project description:To characterize the differentially expressed genes between pathogenic avian E. coli and human E. coli ATCC 25922, Abstract Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a harmless common bacterium of poultry intestine, but with a wide range of genomic flexibility, is also causative agent of many poultry diseases collectively called colibacillosis that is blamed for high economic loss in poultry sector worldwide. Numerous studies have been conducted to check the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli in poultry and poultry products, however limited data are available regarding their resistance and virulence associated genes expression profile. This study examined the pathogenomic content of poultry E. coli by antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm formation and adhesion, invasion and intracellular survivability assays in Caco-2 and Raw 264.7 cell lines along with the determination of median lethal dose in two-day old chickens. A clinical pathogenic multidrug resistant (MDR) isolate, E. coli 381, isolated from broilers was found to be highly virulent in cell culture and in chicken model. Transcriptome analysis has been skewed towards bacterial pathogens because of the prioritization of poultry diseases. Comparative gene expression profile of MDR E. coli 381 and the reference human strain E. coli ATCC 25922 was done using Illumina HiSeq2500 transcriptome and results were verified by RT-qPCR analyses. A number of resistant encoding genes including multidrug transporters, multidrug resistance proteins, porins and autotransporters were identified. We also noticed overexpression of very important virulent genes (fimA, fimC, fimH and fimI) encoding the type-1 fimbrial proteins, curli fimbriae genes , invasin genes, toxin-encoding genes and biofilm forming regulatory genes . In addition, many types of stress and metal homeostasis controlling genes were among up-regulated genes in E. coli 381 as compared to reference strain. GO and KEGG pathway analysis results revealed that genes controlling secondary metabolism, drug transport, adhesion and invasion proteins, and mobile genetic elements were over-expressed in E. coli 381. Several genes involved in cellular and metabolic processes such as carbohydrate metabolism were responsible for stress tolerance. Seminal description of the transcriptomic results and other unique features of E. coli 381 confirmed that it is highly virulent and MDR strain of poultry origin. This comparative study provides new avenues for further work on molecular mechanisms to prevent resistance development in bacteria and to ensure public health.