Engineering topics

Proszkowiec-Weglarz, Monika

Publications and source records attributed to Proszkowiec-Weglarz, Monika.

5 records

DOE OSTI2024

Effects of Eimeria acervulina infection on the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the cecum and ileum in broiler chickens

Coccidiosis, an intestinal disease caused by Eimeria parasites, is responsible for major losses in the poultry industry by impacting chicken health. The gut microbiota is associated with health factors, such as nutrient exchange and immune system modulation, requiring understanding on the effects of Eimeria infection on the gut microbiota. This study aimed to determine the effects of Eimeria acervulina infection on the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the cecum (CeL and CeM) and ileum (IlL and IlM) at multiple time points (days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14) post-infection. E. acervulina infection decreased evenness in CeL microbiota at day 10, increased richness in CeM microbiota at day 3 before decreasing richness at day 14, and decreased richness in IlL microbiota from day 3 to 10. CeL, CeM, and IlL microbiota differed between infected and control birds based on beta diversity at varying time points. Infection reduced relative abundance of bacterial taxa and some predicted metabolic pathways known for short-chain fatty acid production in CeL, CeM, and IlL microbiota, but further understanding of metabolic function is required. Despite E. acervulina primarily targeting the duodenum, our findings demonstrate the infection can impact bacterial diversity and abundance in the cecal and ileal microbiota.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Cecal microbiota composition differs under normal and high ambient temperatures in genetically distinct chicken lines

Modern broilers, selected for high growth rate, are more susceptible to heat stress (HS) as compared to their ancestral jungle fowl (JF). HS affects epithelia barrier integrity, which is associated with gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HS on the cecal luminal (CeL) and cecal mucosal (CeM) microbiota in JF and three broiler populations: Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), 1995 Random Bred (L1995), and Modern Random Bred (L2015). Broiler chicks were subjected to thermoneutral TN (24 °C) or chronic cyclic HS (8 h/day, 36 °C) condition from day 29 until day 56. HS affected richness in CeL microbiota in a line-dependent manner, decreasing richness in slow-growing JF and ACRB lines, while increasing richness in faster-growing L1995 and L2015. Microbiota were distinct between HS and TN conditions in CeL microbiota of all four lines and in CeM microbiota of L2015. Certain bacterial genera were also affected in a line-dependent manner, with HS tending to increase relative abundance in CeL microbiota of slow-growing lines, while decreases were common in fast-growing lines. Predictive functional analysis suggested a greater impact of HS on metabolic pathways in L2015 compared to other lines.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

The Supplementation of FloraMax-B11 Did Not Affect the Bile Acid Neosynthesis and the Enterohepatic Circulation in Broiler Chickens

Most probiotics possess bile salt hydrolase enzymes and may increase bile acid excretion and negatively affect fat digestion and absorption. Therefore, the study objective was to determine the time course effects of a commercial probiotic (P) FloraMax-B11 (FM) supplementation on bile acid neosynthesis and enterohepatic circulation in broiler chickens. Fertile Ross 708 eggs were incubated under standard commercial conditions. At hatch, chicks (n = 550) were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups (n = 5 replicates per treatment group) with 22 birds per pen. The 5 treatment groups consisted of: control group (C, normal water from hatch to 35 days of age without supplements); P3, water supplemented with FM for the first 3 days post-hatch followed by normal water until day 35; P10, water supplemented with FM for the first 10 days post-hatch followed by normal water until day 35; P35, water supplemented with FM from hatch to day 35; and AGP, water supplemented with antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) from hatch until day 35. Ileum, liver, and plasma were collected at hatch, days 3, 10, 21, and 35 post-hatch. The relative mRNA expression of genes involved in bile acid synthesis (CYP7A1, CYP8B1, FXR, FGFR4, and FGF19) and transport (ASBT, I-BABP, OSTα, OSTβ, and BSEP) as well as ileal deoxycholic acid and plasma cholic acid were determined. There was no FM and AGP interaction for any of the response criteria. No FM or AGP effects were observed (p > 0.05) for any genes, except FGF19, which expression was increased (p < 0.0001) in AGP compared to P35. No FM or AGP effects were observed (p > 0.05) for levels of deoxycholic and cholic acids. However, all the genes, deoxycholic acid, and plasma cholic acid were affected by age (p < 0.0001). In general, the data indicate that FM did not negatively impact bile acid metabolism and enterohepatic circulation, which appeared to be age dependent. However, more research should be conducted to confirm these results and investigate the effects of FM on bile acid metabolism, fat digestion, and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Delayed access to feed early post-hatch affects the development and maturation of gastrointestinal tract microbiota in broiler chickens

Background: The first two weeks of post-hatch (PH) growth in broilers (meat-type birds) are critical for gut development and microbiota colonization. In the current broiler production system, chicks may not receive feed and water for 24 to 72 h due to variations in hatching time and hatchery management. Post-hatch feed delay affects body weight, feed efficiency, mortality, and gut development. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in the microbiome in broiler chickens early PH and the effect of delayed access to feed on the microbiota. Results: Chicks either received feed and water immediately after hatch or access to feed was delayed for 48 h to mimic commercial hatchery settings (treatment, TRT). Both groups were sampled (n = 6) at -48, 0, 4 h, and 1 (24 h), 2 (48 h), 3 (72 h), 4 (96 h), 6 (144 h), 8 (192 h), 10 (240 h), 12 (288 h) and 14 (336 h) days PH. Ileal (IL) and cecal (CE) epithelial scrapings (mucosal bacteria, M) and digesta (luminal bacteria, L) were collected for microbiota analysis. Microbiota was determined by sequencing the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA and analyzed using QIIME2. The microbiota of early ileal and cecal samples were characterized by high abundance of unclassified bacteria. Among four bacterial populations (IL-L, IL-M, CE-L, CE-M), IL-M was the least affected by delayed access to feed early PH. Both alpha and beta diversities were affected by delayed access to feed PH in IL-L, CE-M and CE-L. However, the development effect was more pronounced. In all four bacterial populations, significant changes due to developmental effect (time relative to hatch) was observed in taxonomic composition, with transient changes of bacterial taxa during the first two weeks PH. Delayed access to feed has limited influence on bacterial composition with only a few genera and species affected in all four bacterial populations. Predicted function based on 16S rRNA was also affected by delayed access to feed PH with most changes in metabolic pathway richness observed in IL-L, CE-L and CE-M. Conclusions: These results show transient changes in chicken microbiota biodiversity during the first two weeks PH and indicate that delayed access to feed affects microbiota development. Proper microbiota development could be an important factor in disease prevention and antibiotic use in broiler chickens. Moreover, significant differences in response to delayed access to feed PH between luminal and mucosal bacterial populations strongly suggests the need for separate analysis of these two populations.

16S↗

DOE OSTI2021

Choice of 16S ribosomal RNA primers affects the microbiome analysis in chicken ceca

We evaluated the effect of applying different sets of 16S rRNA primers on bacterial composition, diversity, and predicted function in chicken ceca. Cecal contents from Ross 708 birds at 1, 3, and 5 weeks of age were collected for DNA isolation. Eight different primer pairs targeting different variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene were employed. DNA sequences were analyzed using open-source platform QIIME2 and the Greengenes database. PICRUSt2 was used to determine the predicted function of bacterial communities. Changes in bacterial relative abundance due to 16S primers were determined by GLMs. The average PCR amplicon size ranged from 315 bp (V3) to 769 bp (V4–V6). Alpha- and beta-diversity, taxonomic composition, and predicted functions were significantly affected by the primer choice. Beta diversity analysis based on Unweighted UniFrac distance matrix showed separation of microbiota with four different clusters of bacterial communities. Based on the alpha- and beta-diversity and taxonomic composition, variable regions V1–V3(1) and (2), and V3–V4 and V3–V5 were in most consensus. Our data strongly suggest that selection of particular sets of the 16S rRNA primers can impact microbiota analysis and interpretation of results in chicken as was shown previously for humans and other animal species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗