Abstract
Akkermansia muciniphila, a novel mucin-degrading bacterium, has been demonstrated to prevent the development of obesity and related complications. However, whether it can protect poultry from intestinal mucosal damage by enteropathogens has never been mentioned. In this study, we found that A. muciniphila colonized in the intestine and then relieved intestinal mucosal damage in chicks caused by S. pullorum, including anatomical and morphological damage, alleviation of body weight and intestinal inflammation. The repair process activated by A. muciniphila is accompanied by an increase in the number of goblet cells in the chick’s intestine and an up-regulation of Mucin 2 and trefoil factor 2 (Tff2). In addition, we also demonstrate that A. muciniphila improved colon length, crypt depth, increased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, with the accelerated proliferation of intestinal epithelium through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby restoring the damaged intestinal mucosa. This study suggests that A. muciniphila activates the proliferation of intestinal cells protecting the intestinal barrier, thus relieving infection with S. pullorum in chickens.
Highlights
Salmonella is an important zoonotic pathogen that infects livestock and infects humans [1]
A. muciniphila ameliorates S. pullorum‐induced intestinal mucosa damage in chicks To investigate the possible role of A. muciniphila in chicks, chicks were orally administered with PBS (200 μL) as the control or A. muciniphila (106 CFU) suspended in 200 μL PBS once a day for 10 days and orally treated with S. pullorum (109 CFU) suspended in 200 μL PBS on the fifth day (Figure 1A)
There were reports showing that colonization by A. muciniphila is associated with intestinal integrity [9], but it is still a controversy and has never been reported before whether it can protect poultry from intestinal mucosal damage
Summary
Salmonella is an important zoonotic pathogen that infects livestock and infects humans [1]. Salmonella pullorum (S. pullorum) can induce avian salmonellosis after infection in poultry, causing recessive infection and even causing death, which brings huge economic losses to the poultry industry. A. muciniphila is culturable under anaerobic conditions on medium containing gastric mucin, and is able to colonize the gastrointestinal tracts of a number of animal species [10]. It is known as a generation beneficial microbe for which it has been proven that it can prevent the development of obesity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
