Dietary curcumin supplementation enhances growth performance and anti-inflammatory functions by modulating gut microbiota, microbiota-derived metabolites, and expression of inflammation-related genes in broilers.

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenolic substance that has been widely used since ancient times for its multiple beneficial functions. However, whether CUR affects growth performance of broilers by altering gut microbiota and metabolite and the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary CUR supplementation on growth performance, anti-inflammatory function, intestinal morphology and barrier, cecum microbiota and metabolite profile of broilers. Sixty 1-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into control group (CON, fed a control diet) and CUR group (fed a control diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg CUR) after 2 days of adaptation. Results showed that after feeding to 52-day-old, compared with CON broilers, the CUR broilers showed improved feed utilization efficiency and growth performance. Furthermore, the CUR broilers showed an improved intestinal morphology, which was demonstrated by a lower crypt depth in the jejunum. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabonomics (LC-MS/MS) analysis results showed that the cecum microbiota ecology and function were significantly improved, and the abundance of beneficial flora and metabolites were increased, while the harmful bacteria and metabolites were significantly decreased. In addition, RT-qPCR results showed that CUR significantly reduced inflammatory responses, promoted the formation of the mucosal barrier and enhanced digestion, absorption and transport of lipids and glucose related genes expression in the intestine. These above findings demonstrated that dietary CUR supplementation improved growth performance, intestinal morphology and anti-inflammatory functions, mainly by manipulating cecum microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites, which provides a credible explanation for the growth-promoting effect and anti-inflammatory functions of CUR and aids our understanding of the mechanisms underlying.

A meta-analysis for prevalence of infectious laryngotracheitis in chickens in mainland China in 1981-2022.

BACKGROUND: Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a highly infectious upper respiratory tract disease of chickens caused by infectious laryngotracheitis virus or Gallid herpesvirus 1 (GaHV-1). ILT is an important respiratory disease of chickens and annually causes significant economic losses in the chicken industry. Although numerous relevant studies have been published, the overall prevalence of ILT infection among chicken in mainland China is still unknown, and associated risk factors need to be evaluated to establish preventive measures. RESULTS: The present study reviewed the literature on the prevalence of ILT in chickens in China as of December 20, 2022, retrieved from six databases-CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect-were used to retrieve relevant studies published between January 1, 1981 and December 20, 2022. The literature quality of studies was assessed, and 20 studies with a total of 108,587 samples were included in the meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis showed that the overall prevalence of ILT was 10% (95% confidence interval: 8 -12%) through the random-effects model, which showed high heterogeneity, I2 = 99.4%. Further subgroup analyses showed that the prevalence of ILT decreased over time; furthermore, the prevalence in Northwest China was slightly lower than that in North China and South China, and the prevalence estimated using the diagnostic technique AGP was higher than that reported using other diagnostic techniques. CONCLUSIONS: ILT is prevalent to some extent in mainland China. Given that the ILT attenuated live vaccine has a certain level of virulence and the prevalence differences between regions, we recommend controlling breeding density, improving immunization programs and continuously monitoring viruses and to prevent ILT prevailing in mainland China.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in Mainland China between 2008 and 2023: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate the overall prevalence of FIP infection in cats in mainland China and associated risk factors, studies on the prevalence of FIP conducted from 1 January 2008 to 20 December 2023 were retrieved from five databases-CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect-and comprehensively reviewed. The 21 studies selected, with a total of 181,014 samples, underwent a rigorous meta-analysis after quality assessment. The results revealed a 2% prevalence of FIP (95% CI: 1-2%) through the random-effects model, showing considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 95.2%). The subsequent subgroup analysis revealed that the age and gender of cats are significant risk factors for FIP infection in mainland China. In order to effectively reduce and control the prevalence of FIP on the Chinese mainland, we suggest improving the immunity of cats, with special attention given to health management in kittens and intact cats, and continuously monitoring FIPV.

Alterations of intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota diversity, composition, and metabolites of yellow-feathered broilers under chronic corticosterone-induced stress: a possible mechanism underlying the anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder.

This study aimed to explore alterations in growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders, intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota community, and metabolites in a chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broiler model. Results showed that compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) the final body weight (BW), BW gain, and average daily gain were significantly reduced. (ii) The glycolipid metabolism disorder and impairement of intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (iii) Diversity and richness of cecal microbiota were obviously increased. From phylum to genus level, the abundances of Firmicutes and Faecalibacterium were significantly decreased, while the abundances of Proteobacteria, RuminococcaceaeUCG-005, and Escherichia coli (Shigella) were significantly increased. Microbial network analysis and function pathways prediction showed that cecal microbiota was mainly concentrated in translation, metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and endocrine system. (iv) The main differential metabolites identified include steroids and their derivatives, amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates; among which 37 metabolites were significantly upregulated, while 27 metabolites were significantly downregulated. These differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways related to steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (v) Correlation between cecal microbiota and glycolipid metabolism indexes showed that BW and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with Christensenellaceae_R.7_group and Escherichia_Shigella, respectively. Furthermore, the downregulated Faecalibacterium and Christensenellaceae were negatively correlated with the upregulated differentially expressed metabolites. These findings suggested that CCIS altered cecal microbiota composition and metabolites, which led to glycolipid metabolism disorder and impaired the nutritional metabolism and immune homeostasis, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the harm of chronic stress to human health and animal production. IMPORTANCE: The study aimed to determine the influence of altered intestinal mucosal barrier, cecum flora community, and metabolites on anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders of chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broilers. Compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorder, and impaired intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (ii) From phylum to genus level, the abundances of Firmicutes and Faecalibacterium were decreased; whereas, the abundances of Proteobacteria, RuminococcaceaeUCG-005, and Escherichia coli (Shigella) were increased. (iii) Differential metabolites in cecum were mainly enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (iv) Body weight (BW) and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with Christensenellaceae_R.7_group and Escherichia_Shigella, respectively, while downregulated Faecalibacterium and Christensenellaceae were negatively correlated with upregulated metabolites. Our findings suggest that CCIS induces anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder by altering cecum flora and metabolites, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the effect of chronic stress on human health and animal production.

A meta-analysis for vaccine protection rate of duck hepatitis a virus in mainland China in 2009-2021.

BACKGROUND: Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) is a single-stranded, positive-strand small RNA virus that causes a very high mortality rate in ducklings. The DHAV-3 subtype incidence rate has recently increased in China, causing great economic losses to the waterfowl breeding industry. We analyzed the protection rate of DHAV vaccines used in mainland China from 2009 to 2021 and evaluated the effectiveness of vaccine prevention and control to reduce the economic losses caused by DHAV to the waterfowl breeding industry. We screened five electronic research databases and obtained 14 studies and patents on the protection efficiency of DHAV-1 and DHAV-3 vaccines. RESULTS: Meta-analysis demonstrated that immunized ducklings produced higher antibody levels and had a significantly higher survival rate than non-immunized ducklings [relative risk (RR) = 12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6-26, P < 0.01]. The age of the ducks and vaccine valence did not affect protection efficiency. Data source analysis of the vaccine protection rate demonstrated that the vaccines conferred immune protection for ducklings in both small-scale experiments and large-scale clinical conditions. The analysis results revealed that although the vaccines conferred protection, the immune protective effect differed between small-scale experimental conditions and large-scale clinical conditions. This might have been due to non-standard vaccination and environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Domestic DHAV vaccines can protect ducklings effectively. The subjects immunized (breeding ducks or ducklings) and vaccine valence had no effect on the protective effect. Both small-scale experiments and large-scale clinical conditions conferred immune protection on ducklings, but vaccine immunization under small-scale experimental conditions had slightly better protective effects than large-scale clinical immunization.

Manganese Mediates Its Antiviral Functions in a cGAS-STING Pathway Independent Manner.

The innate immune system is the first line of host defense sensing viral infection. Manganese (Mn) has recently been found to be involved in the activation of the innate immune DNA-sensing cGAS-STING pathway and subsequent anti-DNA virus function. However, it is still unclear whether Mn2+ mediates host defense against RNA viruses. In this study, we demonstrate that Mn2+ exhibited antiviral effects against various animal and human viruses, including RNA viruses such as PRRSVs and VSV, as well as DNA viruses such as HSV1, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, cGAS and STING were both investigated in the Mn2+ mediated antiviral roles using the knockout cells made by the CRISPR-Cas9 approach. Unexpectedly, the results revealed that neither cGAS knockout nor STING knockout had any effect on Mn2+-mediated antiviral functions. Nevertheless, we verified that Mn2+ promoted the activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. These findings suggest that Mn2+ has broad-spectrum antiviral activities in a cGAS-STING pathway independent manner. This study also provides significant insights into redundant mechanisms participating in the Mn2+ antiviral functions, and also indicates a new target for Mn2+ antiviral therapeutics.

Duck hepatitis A virus prevalence in mainland China between 2009 and 2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) is a single-strand positive-sense small RNA virus that causes high mortality in ducklings. In recent years, the incidence of DHAV-3 subtype has been increasing in China, leading to great economic losses to the duck-breeding industry. We investigated the incidence and mortality rates of DHAV in ducks and analysed the seroprevalence of DHAV in mainland China, by meta-analysis. Twenty-six studies published between 2009 and 2021 were retrieved, with a total of 689,549 cases from 14 provinces. Using the DerSimonian-Laird model, DHAV prevalence was estimated with the variance-stabilizing double arcsine transformation. The incidence of DHAV in mainland China was 12 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 3-20 %), and the mortality rate was 11 % (95 % CI: 2-19 %), suggesting that the virus was highly virulent and mortality was high. Time analysis showed that DHAV incidence decreased over time. The typing survey showed that strains of DHAV-1 serotype accounted for 38 % (95 % CI: 21-56 %) and strains of DHAV-3 serotype accounted for 49 % (95 % CI: 31-68%) of the tested samples. The decline in the detection rate of DHAV-1 may be due to the widespread use of the DHAV-1 vaccine, which has effectively controlled the DHAV-1 serotype virus. The DHAV-3 vaccine has been on the market for a short time and has no cross protection with DHAV-1, so DHAV-3 accounted for a high proportion of the tested samples. Subgroup analysis of the detection methods showed little difference between PCR and other detection methods.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in mainland China 2016-2020: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii can infect humans and most animals and has a very high infection rate worldwide, including in China. The number of people infected with T. gondii in China increases with the number of cats. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the seropositive rate of T. gondii in cats over the last five years and analyzed the risk factors via meta-analysis. METHODS: We retrieved 20 studies, with a total of 5,158 cats, published between 2016 and 2020, used the DerSimonian-Laird model and calculated seroprevalence estimates with the variance stabilizing double arcsine transformation. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence rate after sinusoidal conversion was 19.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.9-23.9; 966/5,158), lower than the domestic report from 1995 to 2015 (24.5%, 95% CI, 20.1-29.0). There was substantial heterogeneity among studies (χ² = 262.32; p < 0.001; I² = 64.6%). Regression analysis of possible heterogeneous causes and subgroup analysis showed that age and whether cats were stray or not have a significant effect on the seropositive rate. CONCLUSIONS: Articles published in recent five years suggest that the seroprevalence estimates of Toxoplasma gondii in cats has decreased. Cats, as the final host of T. gondii, are an important cause of the spread of the parasite, and this is an important concern for public health.

Topically applied liposome-in-hydrogels for systematically targeted tumor photothermal therapy.

Transdermal drug delivery for local or systemic therapy provides a potential anticancer modality with a high patient compliance. However, the drug delivery efficiency across the skin is highly challenging due to the physiological barriers, which limit the desired therapeutic effects. In this study, we prepared liposome-in-hydrogels containing a tumor targeting photosensitizer IR780 (IR780/lipo/gels) for tumor photothermal therapy (PTT). The formulation effectively delivered IR780 to subcutaneous tumor and deep metastatic sites, while the hydrogels were applied on the skin overlying the tumor or on an area of distant normal skin. The photothermal antitumor activity of topically administered IR780/lipo/gels was evaluated following laser irradiation. We observed significant inhibition of the rate of the tumor growth without any toxicity associated with the topical administration of hydrogels. Collectively, the topical administration of IR780/lipo/gels represents a new noninvasive and safe strategy for targeted tumor PTT.

MicroRNA-130b attenuates dexamethasone-induced increase of lipid accumulation in porcine preadipocytes by suppressing PPAR-γ expression.

In this study, two experiments were conducted to determine the role of miR-130b in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced lipid accumulation. Porcine preadipocytes were treated with 10-6 M DEX for 48 h to investigate effects of DEX in lipid accumulation. Next, in order to illustrate the regulatory role of miR-130b on lipid accumulation induced by DEX, miRNA scrambled control (miR-SC), miR-130b overexpression plasmid and miR-130b inhibitor were respectively transfected into porcine preadipocytes at 24 h before DEX treatment for 48 h (miR-SC-DEX, miR-130b-DEX and miR-130b-inhibitor-DEX). Results showed that 10-6 M DEX significantly increased TG concentration and expression of miR-130b as well as its target gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that PPAR-γ expression was negatively regulated by miR-130b, while this effect was abolished with cotransfection of miR-130b and miR-130b inhibitor. In addition, miR-130b-DEX did not change cell proliferation but significantly decreased TG concentration and PPAR-γ expression compared to miR-SC-DEX cells, while miR-130b-inhibitor-DEX cells presented opposite results. Furthermore, miR-130b-DEX significantly reduced expression of PPAR-γ downstream factor perilipin 1 as well as adipogenesis genes fatty acid synthase, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, 11ß hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and fat mass and obesity-associated gene, whereas expression as well as enzyme activity of adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase were greatly increased. Overall, these results clarified the role of miR-130b in DEX-induced increase of lipid accumulation in porcine preadipocytes, suggesting that miR-130b might be deemed as a novel potential therapeutic target for DEX-induced increase of lipid accumulation, and consequently provide new insights in obesity control.

RNA sensors of the innate immune system and their detection of pathogens.

The innate immune system plays a critical role in pathogen recognition and initiation of protective immune response through the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by its pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Nucleic acids including RNA and DNA have been recognized as very important PAMPs of pathogens especially for viruses. RNA are the major PAMPs of RNA viruses, to which most severe disease causing viruses belong thus posing a tougher challenge to human and animal health. Therefore, the understanding of the immune biology of RNA PRRs is critical for control of pathogen infections especially for RNA virus infections. RNA PRRs are comprised of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, RIG-I, MDA5, NLRP3, NOD2, and some other minorities. This review introduces these RNA PRRs by describing the cellular localizations, ligand recognitions, activation mechanisms, cell signaling pathways, and recognition of pathogens; the cross-talks between various RNA PRRs are also reviewed. The deep insights of these RNA PRRs can be utilized to improve anti-viral immune response. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(5):297-304, 2017.

Genetic diversity and systematic evolution of Chinese domestic ducks along the Yangtze-Huai River.

To investigate the population structure and systematic evolution of the domestic duck in China, we sequenced the 667 bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop control region of 106 ducks from nine breeds along the Yangtze-Huai River. Of the total analyzed sites, 34 (5.1%) were polymorphic due to transitions, transversions, insertions, and deletions. Nucleotide content was 25.6% A, 33.3% C, 15.2% G, and 25.9% T. In total, 31 haplotypes were identified in the target region; of these, the major haplotype was A7, and nine haplotypes were shared by the tested ducks. The haplotype diversity (Hd) and average nucleotide diversity (Pi) were 0.798% and 0.28%, respectively. Hd was highest in the Jingjiang shelduck, followed by the Youxian and Enshi shelducks, and it was lowest in the Wendeng black duck. Nucleotide diversity (Dxy) among the nine breeds ranged from 0.139 to 0.433%, and the Kimura 2-parameter distances were 0.0013-0.0044. Molecular variance indicated that a very high proportion of the insignificant genetic variance was attributable to variations within breeds. Phylogenetic analysis of 31 haplotypes revealed only one distinct maternal lineage in the tested ducks, and no evidence was found of a contribution of the Anas zonorhyncha group B haplotype to the maternal origin of Chinese domestic duck breeds along the Yangtze-Huai.