Using multiomics to explore the weight differences between genders in Muscovy ducks.

Sexual dimorphism in poultry, especially in Muscovy ducks, is a proven phenomenon characterized by significant differences in body weight, growth patterns, and gene expression between male and female individuals. However, there is a dearth of research on the candidate genes and mechanisms underlying these weight differences. We selected 301 Muscovy ducks and recorded their weekly body weights from birth. We utilized 3 non-linear growth models (Logistic, Bertalanffy, and Gompertz) to fit the growth curve of Muscovy ducks, it was found that the logistic model was the most suitable model for describing the growth curve of Muscovy ducks. The results from the logistic model showed that the inflection point of male Muscovy ducks occurred at a later age, and they had a heavier mature body weight than female Muscovy ducks. At 10 wk of age, we collected Muscovy duck breast muscle tissues for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). To exclude the impact of weight difference, 185 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), such as PPAR, FABP3, PLIN1, and FOXO1, were screened. These DEGs were predominantly enriched in terms related to mitochondria, lipids, and nucleic acids. In addition, the gut microbiota has the ability to influence host physiology through the regulation of multiple processes, including playing a crucial role in host muscle growth and development. We randomly selected male and female Muscovy ducks for 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of their cecal microbiota. The results showed that there were significant differences in the composition of cecal microbiota between male and female Muscovy ducks. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Enterenecus and CAG_269 were lower in males compared to females, while Lawsonibacter, Parabacteroides_B, Streptococcus, UBA2658, Caccousia, and Butyricimonas were higher in males than in females. In summary, this study provides a scientific theoretical basis for revealing the different growth patterns of male and female Muscovy ducks, and offers explanations from both the molecular level and microbiological perspectives.

Comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed mRNA profiles in chicken jejunum and cecum following Eimeria maxima infection.

Coccidiosis, a protozoan disease that substantially impacts poultry production, is characterized by an intracellular parasite. The study utilized 48 one-day-old Horro chickens, randomly divided into the infected (I) and control (C) groups. The challenge group of chickens were administered Eimeria maxima oocysts via oral gavage at 21-days-old, and each chicken received 2 mL containing 7×104 sporulated oocysts. The total RNAs of chicken jejunum and cecum tissues were isolated from three samples, each from I and C groups. Our study aimed to understand the host immune-parasite interactions and compare immune response mRNA profiles in chicken jejunum and cecum tissues at 4 and 7 days postinfection with Eimeria maxima. The results showed that 823 up- and 737 down-regulated differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in jejunum at 4 d infection and control (J4I vs. J4C), and 710 up- and 368 down-regulated DEmRNAs in jejunum at 7 days infection and control (J7I vs. J7C) were identified. In addition, DEmRNAs in cecum tissue, 1424 up- and 1930 down-regulated genes in cecum at 4 days infection and control (C4I vs. C4C), and 77 up- and 191 down-regulated genes in cecum at 7 days infection and control (C7I vs. C7C) were detected. The crucial DEmRNAs, including SLC7A5, IL1R2, GLDC, ITGB6, ADAMTS4, IL1RAP, TNFRSF11B, IMPG2, WNT9A, and FOXF1, played pivotal roles in the immune response during Eimeria maxima infection of chicken jejunum. In addition, the potential detection of FSTL3, RBP7, CCL20, DPP4, PRKG2, TFPI2, and CDKN1A in the cecum during the host immune response against Eimeria maxima infection is particularly noteworthy. Furthermore, our functional enrichment analysis revealed the primary involvement of DEmRNAs in small molecule metabolic process, immune response function, inflammatory response, and toll-like receptor 10 signaling pathway in the jejunum at 4 and 7 days postinfection. Similarly, in the cecum, DEmRNAs at 4 and 7 days postinfection were enriched in processes related to oxidative stress response and immune responses. Our findings provide new insights and contribute significantly to the field of poultry production and parasitology.

Xylanase Supplement Enhances the Growth Performance of Broiler by Modulating Serum Metabolism, Intestinal Health, Short-Chain Fatty Acid Composition, and Microbiota.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of xylanase supplementation in a wheat-based diet on growth performance, short-chain fatty acids, intestinal health, microbial composition, and serum metabolism. A total of 1200 male chicks were randomly assigned to four wheat-based diet treatments: Group C (adding 0 mg/kg of xylanase), Group L (adding 50 mg/kg of xylanase), Group M (adding 100 mg/kg of xylanase), and Group H (adding 150 mg/kg of xylanase). The experiment lasted for 56 days. The results indicated that Group H broilers experienced a decreased feed-to-gain ratio throughout the study period. Additionally, dietary supplementation with xylanase led to an increase in the physical barrier, as indicated by increased VH and VH/CD in the gut (p < 0.05). Furthermore, levels of D-lactic acid and endotoxin were reduced. Xylanase supplementation also increased the abundance of Muc-2, ZO-1, and Occludin (p < 0.05). Moreover, xylanase supplementation enhanced the activity of sucrase and maltase in the duodenum (p < 0.05), which may be attributable to the upregulation of the abundance of SI and MGA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, xylanase addition promoted propionic acid produced by specific bacteria, such as Phascolarctobacterium, and influenced the microbial composition to some extent, promoting intestinal health. Additionally, 150 mg/kg of xylanase supplementation increased the amino acid, peptide, and carbohydrate content and upregulated the metabolism of amino acids related to histidine, cysteine, methionine, and other pathways (p < 0.05). These findings suggest adequate xylanase supplementation can enhance nutritional digestibility and absorption, improve growth performance, stimulate endogenous enzyme activity, optimize intestinal morphology and barrier function, and positively influence acid-producing bacteria and amino acid metabolic pathways.

Effects of water-nitrogen coupling on water and salt environment and root distribution in Suaeda salsa.

Understanding the spatial distribution of crop roots is crucial for effectively managing crop water and fertilizer. We investigate the effects of water-nitrogen coupling on the water-salt environment and root distribution in the root zone of S. salsa. Three irrigation levels were established, calculated according to 0.35 (W1), 0.50 (W2), and 0.65 (W3) of local ET0. The three nitrogen levels were 150 (N1), 250 (N2), and 350 (N3) kg·hm-2 in a complete combination design. With the augmentation of irrigation water and nitrogen application, the total root weight density of the root system of Suaeda salsa increased from 17.18×10-3 g·cm-3 to 27.91×10-3 g·cm-3. The distribution of soil water suction significantly influences the root distribution of Suaeda salsa in saline soil, causing a transition from a narrow deep type to a wide shallow type. Under the W2 irrigation level, soil water suction ranges from 1485.60 to 1726.59 KPa, which can provide water for S. salsa.it becomes feasible to attain the necessary water and salt environment for the growth and development of S. salsa, resulting in the attainment of maximum biomass, ash content, and salt uptake. No significant differences in the biomass, ash content, and salt uptake of S. salsa was noted between N2 and N3 nitrogen application levels (p > 0.05).The optimal irrigation volume and nitrogen application level were 0.50 ET0 and 250 kg·hm-2, respectively. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the large-scale planting of S. salsa in extreme arid areas to improve and utilize saline wastelands.

The mitochondrial genome of Huaaristarchorum (Heude, 1889) (Gastropoda, Cerithioidea, Semisulcospiridae) and its phylogenetic implications.

Research on complete mitochondrial genomes can help in understanding the molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships of various species. In this study, the complete mitogenome of Huaaristarchorum was characterized to supplement the limited mitogenomic information on the genus Hua. Three distinct assembly methods, GetOrganelle, NovoPlasty and SPAdes, were used to ensure reliable assembly. The 15,691 bp mitogenome contains 37 genes and an AT-rich region. Notably, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene, commonly used for species identification, appears to be slow-evolving and less variable, which may suggest the inclusion of rapidly evolving genes (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 [ND6] or NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 [ND2]) as markers in diagnostic, detection, and population genetic studies of Cerithioidea. Moreover, we identified the unreliability of annotations (e.g., the absence of annotations for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L [ND4L] in NC_037771) and potential misidentifications (NC_023364) in public databases, which indicate that data from public databases should be manually curated in future research. Phylogenetic analyses of Cerithioidea based on different datasets generated identical trees using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results confirm that Semisulcospiridae is closely related to Pleuroceridae. The sequences of Semisulcospiridae clustered into three clades, of which H.aristarchorum is one; H.aristarchorum is sister to the other two clades. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of the H.aristarchorum mitogenome and the phylogenetic relationships of Semisulcospiridae. The inclusion of further mitochondrial genome sequences will improve knowledge of the phylogeny and origin of Cerithioidea.

Effects of Thermal Boundary Resistance on Thermal Management of Gallium-Nitride-Based Semiconductor Devices: A Review.

Wide-bandgap gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductors offer significant advantages over traditional Si-based semiconductors in terms of high-power and high-frequency operations. As it has superior properties, such as high operating temperatures, high-frequency operation, high breakdown electric field, and enhanced radiation resistance, GaN is applied in various fields, such as power electronic devices, renewable energy systems, light-emitting diodes, and radio frequency (RF) electronic devices. For example, GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are used widely in various applications, such as 5G cellular networks, satellite communication, and radar systems. When a current flows through the transistor channels during operation, the self-heating effect (SHE) deriving from joule heat generation causes a significant increase in the temperature. Increases in the channel temperature reduce the carrier mobility and cause a shift in the threshold voltage, resulting in significant performance degradation. Moreover, temperature increases cause substantial lifetime reductions. Accordingly, GaN-based HEMTs are operated at a low power, although they have demonstrated high RF output power potential. The SHE is expected to be even more important in future advanced technology designs, such as gate-all-around field-effect transistor (GAAFET) and three-dimensional (3D) IC architectures. Materials with high thermal conductivities, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and diamond, are good candidates as substrates for heat dissipation in GaN-based semiconductors. However, the thermal boundary resistance (TBR) of the GaN/substrate interface is a bottleneck for heat dissipation. This bottleneck should be reduced optimally to enable full employment of the high thermal conductivity of the substrates. Here, we comprehensively review the experimental and simulation studies that report TBRs in GaN-on-SiC and GaN-on-diamond devices. The effects of the growth methods, growth conditions, integration methods, and interlayer structures on the TBR are summarized. This study provides guidelines for decreasing the TBR for thermal management in the design and implementation of GaN-based semiconductor devices.

Selenomethionine Attenuated H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis by Nrf2 in Chicken Liver Cells.

Earlier studies have shown that selenomethionine (SM) supplements in broiler breeders had higher deposition in eggs, further reduced the mortality of chicken embryos, and exerted a stronger antioxidant ability in offspring than sodium selenite (SS). Since previous studies also confirmed that Se deposition in eggs was positively correlated with maternal supplementation, this study aimed to directly investigate the antioxidant activities and underlying mechanisms of SS and SM on the chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH). The cytotoxicity results showed that the safe concentration of SM was up to 1000 ng/mL, while SS was 100 ng/mL. In Se treatments, both SS and SM significantly elevated mRNA stability and the protein synthesis rate of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), two Se-containing antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, SM exerted protective effects in the H2O2-induced oxidant stress model by reducing free radicals (including ROS, MDA, and NO) and elevating the activities of antioxidative enzymes, which performed better than SS. Furthermore, the results showed that cotreatment with SM significantly induced apoptosis induced by H2O2 on elevating the content of Bcl-2 and decreasing caspase-3. Moreover, investigations of the mechanism revealed that SM might exert antioxidant effects on H2O2-induced LMHs by activating the Nrf2 pathway and enhancing the activities of major antioxidant selenoenzymes downstream. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of SM on ameliorating H2O2-induced oxidative impairment and suggest SM has the potential to be used in the prevention or adjuvant treatment of oxidative-related impairment in poultry feeds.

Carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan-chitosan complex nanogels stabilized emulsions incorporated into alginate as microcapsule matrix for intestinal-targeted delivery of probiotics: In vivo and in vitro studies.

In this study, we developed a novel delivery system using carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan-chitosan (CMKGM-CS) nanogels stabilized single and double emulsion incorporated into alginate hydrogel as microcapsule matrix for intestinal-targeted delivery of probiotics. Through in vitro experiments, it was demonstrated that alginate hydrogel provided favorable biocompatible growth conditions for the proliferation of Lactobacillus reuteri (LR). The alginate hydrogel containing single (ASE) or double emulsions (ACG) enhanced the resistance of LR to various adverse environments. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiments revealed that the survivability of LR in free, CON, ASE and ACG group decreased by 6.45 log CFU/g, 4.21 log CFU/g, 1.26 log CFU/g and 0.65 log CFU/g, respectively. In vivo studies conducted in mice showed that ACG maintained its integrity during passage through the stomach and released the probiotics in the targeted intestinal area, whereas the pure alginate hydrogels (CON) were prematurely released in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the viable counts of ACG in different intestinal segments (jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon) were increased by 1.11, 1.42, 1.68, and 1.89 log CFU/g, respectively, after 72 h of oral administration compared to the CON group. This research contributed valuable insights into the development of an effective microbial delivery system with potential applications in the biopharmaceutical and food industries.

Investigation of potential genetic factors for growth traits in yellow-feather broilers using weighted single-step genome-wide association study.

Yellow-feather broilers take a large portion of poultry industry in China due to its meat characteristics. Improving the growth traits of yellow-feathered broilers will have great significance for the Chinese poultry market. The current study was designed to investigate the potential genetic factors using the weighted single-step genome-wide association study (wssGWAS) method, which takes consideration of more factors including pedigree, sex, environment and has more accuracy than traditional GWAS. The yellow-feather dwarf chickens from Wens Nanfang Poultry Breeding Co. Ltd. were revolved to recode 9 growth traits: Average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW) at 45 d, 49 d, 56 d, 63 d, 70 d, 77 d, 84 d, 91 d for analysis. For the results, the region 4.63 to 5.03 Mb on chromosome 15, which was the QTL overlapped in BW45, BW49, BW56, BW63, BW84, might be the crucial genetic region for growth traits. Seven GO terms and 3 KEGG pathways, GO:0005200, GO:0005882, GO:0045111, GO:0099513, GO:0099081, GO:0099512, GO:0099080, KEGG:gga04020, KEGG:gga04540, KEGG:gga04210, were detected to relevant with growth traits. The genes enriched in these biological processes (NRAS, TUBB1, ADORA2B, NTRK3, NGF, TNNC2, F-KER, LOC429492, LOC431325, LOC431324, LOC396480) might have the function in growth of yellow-feather broilers.

First-in-Class NADH/Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Core Subunit S7 (NDUFS7) Antagonist for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer cells adapt to nutrient-scarce metabolic conditions by increasing their oxidative phosphorylation reserve to survive. Here, we present a first-in-class small-molecule NDUFS7 antagonist that inhibits oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The lead compound, DX2-201, suppresses the proliferation of a panel of cell lines, and a metabolically stable analogue, DX3-213B, shows significant efficacy in a syngeneic model of pancreatic cancer. Exome sequencing of six out of six clones resistant to DX2-201 revealed a pV91M mutation in NDUFS7, providing direct evidence of its drug-binding site. In combination studies, DX2-201 showed synergy with multiple metabolic modulators, select OXPHOS inhibitors, and PARP inhibitors. Importantly, a combination with 2-deoxyglucose overcomes drug resistance in vivo. This study demonstrates that an efficacious treatment for pancreatic cancer can be achieved through inhibition of OXPHOS and direct binding to NDUFS7, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for this hard-to-treat cancer.

Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 attenuates Clostridium perfringens-induced intestinal damage of broilers by modulating intestinal microbiota and the metabolome.

Necrotic enteritis (NE), especially subclinical NE (SNE), without clinical symptoms, in chicks has become one of the most threatening problems to the poultry industry. Therefore, increasing attention has been focused on the research and application of effective probiotic strains as an alternative to antibiotics to prevent SNE in broilers. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Bacillus subtilis DSM29784 (BS) on the prevention of subclinical necrotic enteritis (SNE) in broilers. A total of 480 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, each with six replicates pens of twenty birds for 63 d. The negative (Ctr group) and positive (SNE group) groups were only fed a basal diet, while the two treatment groups received basal diets supplemented with BS (1 × 109 colony-forming units BS/kg) (BS group) and 10mg/kg enramycin (ER group), respectively. On days 15, birds except those in the Ctr group were challenged with 20-fold dose coccidiosis vaccine, and then with 1 ml of C. perfringens (2 × 108) at days 18 to 21 for SNE induction. BS, similar to ER, effectively attenuated CP-induced poor growth performance. Moreover, BS pretreatment increased villi height, claudin-1 expression, maltase activity, and immunoglobulin abundance, while decreasing lesional scores, as well as mucosal IFN-γ and TNF-α concentrations. In addition, BS pretreatment increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and decreased that of pathogenic species; many lipid metabolites were enriched in the cecum of treated chickens. These results suggest that BS potentially provides active ingredients that may serve as an antibiotic substitute, effectively preventing SNE-induced growth decline by enhancing intestinal health in broilers.

Design and Synthesis of Orally Active Quinolyl Pyrazinamides as Sigma 2 Receptor Ligands for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer.

Sigma 2 receptor (σ2R) is overexpressed in select cancers and is regarded as a biomarker for tumor proliferation. σ2R ligands are emerging as promising theranostics for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of a series of novel quinolyl pyrazinamides as selective and potent σ2R ligands that show sub-micromolar potency in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Compounds 14 (JR1-157) and 17 (JR2-298) bind σ2R with Ki of 47 and 10 nM, respectively. Importantly, compound 14 has an oral bioavailability of 60% and shows significant in vivo efficacy without obvious toxicity in a syngeneic model of pancreatic cancer. The cytotoxicity of the quinolyl pyrazinamides significantly enhanced in the presence of copper and diminished in the presence of the copper-chelator tetrathiomolybdate. In conclusion, compound 14 is water-soluble, metabolically stable, orally active, and increases the expression of the autophagy marker LC3B and warrants further development for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Data-Driven Design of Transparent Thermal Insulating Nanoscale Layered Oxides.

Predicting the interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) for various material systems is a time-consuming process. In this study, we applied our previously proposed ITR machine learning models to discover the material systems that satisfy both high transparency and low thermal conductivity. The selected material system of TiO2/SiO2 shows a high ITR of 26.56 m2K/GW, which is in good agreement with the predicted value. The nanoscale layered TiO2/SiO2 thin films synthesized by sputtering exhibits ultralow thermal conductivity (0.21 W/mK) and high transparency (>90%, 380−800 nm). The reduction of the thermal conductivity is achieved by the high density of the interfaces with a high ITR rather than the change of the intrinsic thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of TiO2 is observed to be 1.56 W/mK with the film thickness in the range of 5−50 nm. Furthermore, the strong substrate dependence is confirmed as the thermal conductivity of the nanoscale layered TiO2/SiO2 thin films on quartz glass is three times lower than that on Si. The proposed TiO2/SiO2 composites have higher transparency and robustness, good adaptivity to electronics, and lower cost than the current transparent thermal insulating materials such as aerogels and polypropylene. The good agreement of the experimental ITR with the prediction and the low thermal conductivity of the layered thin films promise this strategy has great potential for accelerating the development of transparent thermal insulators.

Impact of Maternal and Offspring Dietary Zn Supplementation on Growth Performance and Antioxidant and Immune Function of Offspring Broilers.

The current study investigated the effects of the maternal Zn source in conjunction with their offspring's dietary Zn supplementation on the growth performance, antioxidant status, Zn concentration, and immune function of the offspring. It also explored whether there is an interaction between maternal Zn and their offspring's dietary Zn. One-day-old Lingnan Yellow-feathered broilers (n = 800) were completely randomized (n = 4) between two maternal dietary supplemental Zn sources [maternal Zn−Gly (oZn) vs. maternal ZnSO4 (iZn)] × two offspring dietary supplemental Zn doses [Zn-unsupplemented control diet (CON), the control diet + 80 mg of Zn/kg of diet as ZnSO4]. oZn increased progeny ADG and decreased offspring mortality across all periods, especially during the late periods (p < 0.05). The offspring diet supplemented with Zn significantly improved ADG and decreased offspring mortality over the whole period compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). There were significant interactions between the maternal Zn source and offspring dietary Zn with regards to progeny mortality during the late phase and across all phases as a whole (p < 0.05). Compared with the iZn group, the oZn treatment significantly increased progeny liver and serum Zn concentrations; antioxidant capacity in the liver, muscle, and serum; and the IgM concentration in serum; while also decreasing progeny serum IL-1 and TNF-α cytokine secretions (p < 0.05). Similar results were observed when the offspring diet was supplemented with Zn compared with the CON group; moreover, adding Zn to the offspring diet alleviated progeny stress by decreasing corticosterone levels in the serum when compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal Zn−Gly supplementation increased progeny performance and decreased progeny mortality and stress by increasing progeny Zn concentration, antioxidant capacity, and immune function compared with the same Zn levels from ZnSO4. Simultaneously, Zn supplementation in the progeny's diet is necessary for the growth of broilers.

Association between ABO blood groups and postoperative pain in children after adenotonsillectomy: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It has been known that ABO blood groups are linked to the phenotypes of certain diseases; however, and the relationship between ABO blood groups and postoperative pain have not been extensively studied, especially in children. This study was to investigate whether there would be an association between the four major ABO blood groups and postoperative pain, as indicated by the differences in pain scores and rescue fentanyl requirements among blood groups in children after adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: A total of 124 children, aged 3-7 years, ASA I or II, and undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) and the rescue fentanyl requirement in post anesthesia care unit (PACU) was analyzed. Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score and the duration of PACU were recorded. The postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) within 24 h were documented. RESULTS: Among four blood type groups, no significant differences were observed regarding surgery time, and the gaps of fentanyl given at the anesthesia induction and the first rescue fentanyl injection in PACU. However, patients from AB and B blood groups had significantly higher pain score at initial CHEOPS assessment and consequently, higher consumption of rescue fentanyl during PACU stay. A significantly higher percentage of patients had received > 1 µg/kg rescue fentanyl. Higher PAED scores were also observed in AB and B blood groups. CONCLUSION: Paediatric patients with AB and B blood type had higher postoperative CHEOPS pain score and required significantly more fentanyl for pain control than those with A and O blood type after T&A. The initial scores of PAED in patients with AB and B blood type were also higher than that in patients with A and O blood type.

Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed circRNAs miRNAs and mRNAs during the challenge of coccidiosis.

Avian coccidiosis is a common enzootic disease caused by infection of Eimeria species parasites. It causes huge economic losses in the global poultry industry. Current control using anticoccidial drugs or vaccination is limited due to drug resistance and the relatively high cost of vaccines. Improving host genetic resistance to Eimeria species is considered an effective strategy for improved control of coccidiosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to function as biomarkers or diagnoses of various kinds of diseases. The molecular biological functions of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs related to Sasso chicken have not yet been described during Eimeria species challenge. In this study, RNA-seq was used to profile the expression pattern of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in spleens from Eimeria tenella-infected and non-infected commercial dual-purpose Sasso T445 breed chickens. Results showed a total of 40 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), 31 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and 820 differentially expressed genes (DEmRNAs) between infected and non-infected chickens. Regulatory networks were constructed between differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs to offer insights into the interaction mechanisms between chickens and Eimeria spp. Functional validation of a significantly differentially expressed circRNA, circMGAT5, revealed that circMGAT5 could sponge miR-132c-5p to promote the expression of the miR-132c-5p target gene monocyte to macrophage differentiation-associated (MMD) during the infection of E. tenella sporozoites or LPS stimulation. Pathologically, knockdown of circMGAT5 significantly upregulated the expression of macrophage surface markers and the macrophage activation marker, F4/80 and MHC-II, which indicated that circMGAT5 might inhibit the activation of macrophage. miR-132c-5p markedly facilitated the expression of F4/80 and MHC-II while circMGAT5 could attenuate the increase of F4/80 and MHC-II induced by miR-132c-5p, indicating that circMGAT5 exhibited function through the circMGAT5-miR-132c-5p-MMD axis. Together, our results indicate that circRNAs exhibit their resistance or susceptive roles during E. tenella infection. Among these, circMGAT5 may inhibit the activation of macrophages through the circMGAT5-miR-132c-5p-MMD axis to participate in the immune response induced by Eimeria infection.

Bacterial Metabolite Reuterin Attenuated LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Response in HD11 Macrophages.

Reuterin is well-known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial ability, while the other potential bioactivity is not yet clear. The present study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of reuterin on chicken macrophage HD11 cells for the first time and evaluate whether reuterin is able to regulate the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory response. The results showed that the safe medication range of reuterin was less than 250 µM. Reuterin treatment for 6 h decreased the transcriptional of CD86, IL-1ß and iNOS and increased the expression of CD206 in a dose-dependent way, but reuterin treatment for 12 h contrary increased the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10. However, it was noticed that reuterin treatment for 12 h significantly decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressed the phagocytosis activity of HD11 macrophages against bacteria. Further, the results showed that preincubation or coincubation with reuterin significantly attenuated the promotive effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on transcription of proinflammatory cytokines (including IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) and obviously inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production as well as the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Meanwhile, Mechanism studies implied that reuterin might exert an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated cells by downregulating the expression of TLR4/MyD88/TRAF6 and blocking the activation of NF-κB as well as MAPKs signaling pathways. Additionally, it was found that both pretreatment and cotreatment with reuterin remarkably inhibited the oxidative stress induced by LPS stimulation by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and enhancing the activities of antioxidative enzymes. These findings suggested the immunoregulatory function of reuterin and indicated this bacterial metabolite was able to inhibit the inflammation and oxidative stress of HD11 macrophages once exposed to LPS stimulation.

Mechanisms Underlying the Protective Effect of Maternal Zinc (ZnSO4 or Zn-Gly) against Heat Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chicken Embryo.

Environmental factors such as high temperature can cause oxidative stress and negatively affect the physiological status and meat quality of broiler chickens. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary maternal Zn-Gly or ZnSO4 supplementation on embryo mortality, hepatocellular mitochondrial morphology, liver antioxidant capacity and the expression of related genes involved in liver oxidative mechanisms in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 300 36-week-old Lingnan Yellow broiler breeders were randomly divided into three treatments: (1) control (basal diet, 24 mg zinc/kg); (2) inorganic ZnSO4 group (basal diet +80 mg ZnSO4/kg); (3) organic Zn-Gly group (basal diet +80 mg Zn-Gly/kg). The results show that maternal zinc alleviated heat stress-induced chicken embryo hepatocytes' oxidative stress by decreasing the content of ROS, MDA, PC, 8-OHdG, and levels of HSP70, while enhancing T-SOD, T-AOC, CuZn-SOD, GSH-Px, CTA activities and the content of MT. Maternal zinc alleviated oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage in chick embryo hepatocytes by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and UCP gene expression; and Caspase-3-mediated apoptosis was alleviated by increasing CuZn-SOD and MT gene expression and decreasing Bax gene expression and reducing the activity of caspase 3. Furthermore, maternal zinc treatment significantly increased Nrf2 gene expression. The results above suggest that maternal zinc can activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway in developing chick embryos, enhance its antioxidant function and reduce the apoptosis-effecting enzyme caspase-3 activities, thereby slowing oxidative stress injury and tissue cell apoptosis.

Metagenomic analysis reveals the microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes in indigenous Chinese yellow-feathered chickens.

Yellow-feathered chickens have great nutritional value and are widely and traditionally used in China, on an industrial scale as broilers. The presence of intestinal microbes has been shown to correlate with poultry performance and serves as an essential reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern. Here, we investigated functional characteristics of the gut microbiome of indigenous Chinese yellow-feathered chickens (the Huiyang Bearded, Xinghua, Huaixiang, Zhongshan Shanlan, Qingyuan Partridge, and Yangshan chickens) through metagenomic sequencing and reconstructed 409 draft genomes, including 60 novel species and 6 novel genera. Furthermore, we assessed the functions of the intestinal microbial communities and examined the ARGs within them. The results showed that the microbial populations of yellow-feathered broilers were primarily dominated by Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides at the genus level. Furthermore, the Qingyuan Partridge chicken showed a significantly higher abundance of Prevotella than the other five breeds of chicken. Principal coordinates analysis indicated significant differences in the structures of microbial communities and ARGs, based on the binary Jaccard distance, among the six chicken breeds. Moreover, 989 ARGs conferring tetracycline, multidrug, and aminoglycoside resistance were identified, which represented more than 80% of the faecal resistomes; the most abundant gene in the yellow-feathered chickens was tet(Q). In addition, we found the greatest abundance of resistance genes in Xinghua chickens, indicating that Xinghua chickens are highly resistant to antibiotics. Overall, our findings revealed differences in the gut microbial community structure of indigenous Chinese yellow-feathered broiler breeds and the composition and characteristics of ARGs and antibiotic resistance that enabled us to reconstruct the yellow-feathered chicken gut microbial community genomes. The current data significantly improves our knowledge of the gut microbiome and antibiotic resistance of popular broiler breeds in China.

A missense mutation in ISPD contributes to maintain muscle fiber stability.

BACKGROUND: Livestock and poultry skeletal muscle development was regulated by a variety of genetic factors playing an essential role in this process. In our de novo sequencing, a missense mutation in ISPD exon 2 showed a selected signature for well-developed muscles. However, the relationship between this mutation and muscle phenotypes remains unclear. RESULTS: Based on the genotype bias of this missense mutation in gamecock chickens, we compared the cross-section of muscle fibers among the individuals with different genotypes with the results showing a genotype preference of this missense mutation in the chickens with hypertrophic muscle fibers. Comparing TT- and CC-genotype ISPD showed that TT- genotype was associated with heavier skeletal muscle and a better effect on myogenesis and myofiber stability. At cellular level, ISPD was identified to inhibit myoblast proliferation, differentiation and antagonize of muscular atrophy. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the missense mutation of Arg84Lys in ISPD was associated with well-developed muscles and demonstrated to improve chicken muscles' development.