Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide Microcin J25 on Growth Performance, Immune Regulation, and Intestinal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens Challenged with Escherichia coli and Salmonella.

Gang Wang,Yuming Wang,Haitao Yu,Xiangfang Zeng,Jiang Zhang,Xiuliang Ding,Shuo Huang,Shuang Cai,Qinglong Song

doi:10.3390/ani10020345

Abstract

Simple SummaryAntimicrobial peptides are thought to be ideal candidates, owing to their antimicrobial properties, broad spectrum of activity, and low propensity for development of bacterial resistance. Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is an antimicrobial peptide produced by a fecal strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) containing 21 Arbor Acres (AA) broilers, and has a strong inhibition on E. coli and Salmonella. This study was performed primarily to evaluate the effects of MccJ25 on growth performance and gut health in broilers challenged with E. coli and Salmonella, as a potential substitute for antibiotics. The results showed that MccJ25 promoted growth performance, improved intestinal morphology, and influenced fecal microbiota composition.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of antimicrobial peptide microcin J25 (MccJ25) on growth performance, immune regulation, and intestinal microbiota in broilers. A total of 3120 one-day-old male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly allocated to five groups (12 replicates, 52 chickens per replicate). The treatments were control, challenge (0 mg/kg MccJ25), different dosages of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) (0.5 and 1mg/kg MccJ25), and antibiotic groups (20 mg/kg colistin sulfate). The MccJ25 groups increased the body weight gain (starter and overall) that was reduced in the challenge group. The overall (day 1 to day 42) feed-to-gain ratio (G:F) was significantly decreased in AMP groups compared with the challenge group. Birds fed AMP had a decreased population of total anaerobic bacteria (day 21 and day 42) and E. coli (day 21 and day 42) in feces, as well as a lower Salmonella infection rate (day 21 and day 42) compared with birds in the challenge group. The villus height of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, as well as the villus height/crypt depth of the duodenum and jejunum were greater in AMP groups than birds in the challenge group. Moreover, MccJ25 linearly improved the villus height of the duodenum and jejunum. The addition of MccJ25 decreased the concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 compared with challenge group. At d 21, MccJ25 linearly reduced the level of IL-6. In conclusion, dietary supplemented MccJ25 effectively improved performance, systematic inflammation, and improved fecal microbiota composition of the broilers.

Highlights

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is very common in the natural environment
The local or systemic diseases caused by avian E. coli mainly include sepsis, granuloma, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, salpingitis, and hemorrhagic enteritis
Treatments consisted of a (1) control group, fed a basal diet, groups (2), (3), (4) and (5) were challenged with E. coli AZ1 (1 × 106 CFU/g) and Salmonella CVCC519 (1 × 106 CFU/g) in drinking water, and fed a basal diet with 0 mg/kg Mcc J25 (2, challenge group), different antimicrobial peptide (AMP) dosages of 0.5 mg/kg (3) and 1 mg/kg Mcc J25 (4), and an antibiotic, colistin sulfate at 20 mg/kg (5, Antibiotic group)

Summary

Introduction

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is very common in the natural environment. It can invade animals through drinking water, equipment, feces, etc. Avian colibacillosis is one of serious enteric diseases in poultry production, and it can cause decreased production performance, am increased mortality rate, and subsequent huge economic losses for the global poultry industry. The local or systemic diseases caused by avian E. coli mainly include sepsis, granuloma, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, salpingitis, and hemorrhagic enteritis. The incidence of colibacillosis is 1%–69%, the mortality rate is 3.8%–72.9%, and the lethality rate is 40.2%–90.3% [1]. Pullorum disease is a common multiple infectious disease caused by Salmonella pullorum, which seriously affects chicken survival rate. E. coli and Salmonella can increase the risk of the continuing association of poultry-borne transmission to humans

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