Location: Food and Feed Safety Research
Project Number: 3091-32000-035-008-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2017
End Date: Aug 31, 2020
Objective:
Determine the mechanism action of pre-and probiotics, when administered to poultry via feed and/or water, in the prevention and reduction of foodborne pathogens in poultry.
Approach:
Poultry (which may include laying chickens, broiler chickens, and turkeys) will be fed or administered through water, pre- or probiotics from day of hatch until market age/maturity to assess the effects on the host's immune functions, microbiome, and host kinomic profile. Treated vs. control feed/water birds will be compared in immunoassays of leukocyte function and efficacy, cytokine profiles (using RT-PCR and gene expression), as well as changes in the respective group's gut microbiomes and host kinase activity. Further studies of the effects of feed/water pre- and probiotics will assess the ability of these products to prevent or reduce foodborne pathogens (including but not limited to Salmonella) in the gut and tissues of poultry. Multiple samples from each bird will be taken for comparison, including blood, tissues, and gut contents.
