[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.2025020.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.2025020.].
Growth performance, an important trait in the broiler industry, is defined by both the host genome and gut microbiota. At present, it is not known how gut microbiota contribute to the growth of Dahen broilers, a commercially important breed in China. In this study, we used metagenome sequencing to compare the taxonomic composition and functional implications of cecal microbiota in fast-growing Dahen broilers and slow-growing Tibetan chickens. A total of 2,207,811 unique genes were assembled in the non-redundant set, and 99% of them were taxonomically annotated as having a bacterial origin. The fast-growing group displayed a higher alpha diversity than the slow-growing group in terms of ACE, Chao1, and Good's coverage statistics. The two groups presented also significantly different (P < 0.05) relative abundances of the genera Collinsella, Olsenella, Pyramidobacter, Basidiobolus, and Mieseafarmvirus, along with that of eight species (e.g., Olsenella timonensis and Victivallis sp. Marseille Q1083). Although not statistically significant, we found a higher expression of several energy metabolism-related eggNOG terms in the fast-growing group. In summary, the present study identifies gut microbiota associated with growth performance in Dahen broilers and offers new tools for gut microbiome-related intervention in this breed.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Panaferd®-AX, an astaxanthin-rich dried cell powder obtained from the carotenoid-producing bacterium Paracoccus carotinifaciens, on the muscle concentration of carotenoids, fatty acids, free amino acids, and imidazole dipeptides in broiler chickens. Thirty male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to three groups at 14 days of age. Until 28 days of age, the control group was fed a basal diet; whereas the two test groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with Panaferd®-AX at 0.025% or 0.15%, corresponding to 5 ppm or 30 ppm astaxanthin, respectively. At the end of the experiment, body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rate, and tissue weight did not differ between the groups. Feeding Panaferd®-AX increased muscle astaxanthin, as well as plasma zeaxanthin, and lutein concentrations, but did not affect fatty acid composition. In the pectoralis major muscle, it decreased lipid peroxidation and drip loss; while increasing carnosine content. In summary, Panaferd®-AX increased muscle antioxidant content (i.e., carotenoids and carnosine), which consequently reduced lipid peroxidation and drip loss in the skeletal muscle of broiler chickens.
Poultry meat and eggs are important sources of high-quality animal protein worldwide. However, poultry in Japan has historically been regarded as a symbolic or spiritual entity more than as a food source, as its roles are deeply embedded in Japanese consciousness and society. Current evidence indicates that chickens first appeared in Japan during the Yayoi period, approximately 2,000 years ago, coinciding with a period of active human migration to the Japanese archipelago. Since then, poultry has played notable roles in Japanese art, literature, mythology, and folktales. Recent advancements in molecular clock analysis or the detection of genomic modifications, such as introgression, deletions, mutations, and viral infection from trace fossil/live samples necessitate the continual revision and refinement of existing theories about human and animal history across several academic disciplines. Therefore, the objective of the present review was to elucidate the distinct and multilayered relationship between humans and poultry in Japan, incorporating recent anthropological and ornithological perspectives.
Metabolizable energy is a key information when formulating chicken feed. The present study employed chemical analysis data and in vitro digestibility values to investigate the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of dried okara, a soybean byproduct, in broiler chickens. A total of 105 male Ross-308 broiler chickens were fed dehulled rice-soybean meal-based diets containing 0%, 10%, and 20% okara derived from either tofu or soymilk. The proximate composition, neutral detergent fiber content, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and in vitro energy digestibility of okara were analyzed. The in vitro digestibility of okara was influenced by particle size, with 0.5-mm samples showing higher digestibility than 1.0-mm samples. Soymilk okara had a higher AME (3300 kcal/kg DM) than tofu okara (2827 kcal/kg DM), which was attributed to its lower ADF but higher protein content. To predict the AME of okara, we developed a stepwise regression model that combined the variables: ADF as X1, ether extract as X2, and the in vitro energy digestion rate from the 0.5-mm sample as X3. AME could be predicted with high accuracy using the following formula: Y = -14.12 X1 + 20.98 X2 + 32.42 X3 + 1100.1 (R2 = 0.99, P < 0.01), with minimal root mean square error.
This study aimed to characterize the sensory attributes of Japanese jidori thigh meat, such as texture, odor, and flavor/taste, and to identify the instrumental parameters that distinguish it from commercial broiler chickens. Six chicken thigh meats were used: one jidori-niku (Choshu-Kurokashiwa, 14-week old) and five broilers-three Ross 308 (7, 7, 9-week old), one Hubbard ColorPac (10-week old), and one Hubbard RedBro (10-week old)-from different producers. Descriptive sensory analysis was conducted with a trained panel to establish a comprehensive sensory lexicon and quantify attribute intensities of thigh samples cooked in a steam convection oven at 185°C. Instrumental assessments included cooking loss, shear force value, pH, inosine-5'-monophosphate, free amino acid content, and fatty acid composition. Choshu-Kurokashiwa meat exhibited greater "springiness" and reduced "tenderness" (p < 0.001), along with higher shear force value (p < 0.001) than broiler meat. Choshu-Kurokashiwa meat received also the highest sensory scores for "meaty odor," "meaty flavor," "umami taste," and "aftertaste intensity." While Choshu-Kurokashiwa meat had lower free amino acid levels, it was enriched in arachidonic acid (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis revealed a clear separation between Choshu-Kurokashiwa meat and the five broilers in terms of "springiness," "tenderness," "meaty flavor," "light taste," "umami taste," and "aftertaste intensity." These results show that Choshu-Kurokashiwa meat possesses distinct texture and flavor/taste characteristics compared to commercial broiler meat.
Sperm-egg interactions involve a complex series of molecular events. Among these, the acrosome reaction (AR) is a prerequisite for sperm penetration, facilitating the exposure of multiple acrosomal proteins that enhance sperm binding or penetration of the outer layer of the egg; however, the specific molecules involved in this process vary across species. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteins are transmembrane glycoproteins that play a role in sperm-egg interactions, with notable differences among ADAM isoforms. In a previous characterization of the chicken sperm membrane proteome, ADAM32 metallopeptidase domain 32-like 2 (ADAM32L2), a protein structurally homologous to mammalian ADAMs, but absent in mammals, was identified. ADAM32L2 was located in the acrosomal region, underwent processing during the AR, similar to certain mammalian sperm ADAMs, and likely contributed to sperm binding to the inner perivitelline layer (IPVL) in chickens. Using various protease inhibitors, it was confirmed that sperm protease activity was involved in multiple stages of sperm interaction with the IPVL. Using a specific antibody, ADAM32L2 was predominantly expressed in the testis and localized to the sperm acrosomal region. Upon separation of the acrosome cap through an inherent AR process in chicken sperm, the 80 kDa acrosomal ADAM32L2 was processed into a 45 kDa C-terminal fragment during AR. Although zymography did not detect metalloproteinase activity in this fragment, a purified ADAM32L2 antibody inhibited sperm penetration of the IPVL, suggesting that the processed form was involved in IPVL binding. These findings elucidate the mechanism of sperm-IPVL interactions and offer new insights into the functional role of ADAM proteins in avian sperm.
Food loss and waste (FLW) is a serious problem worldwide. One proposed solution is to divert FLW to livestock feed. From the viewpoint of food mileage, it is increasingly recommended that the distance that food travels between the sites of production and consumption is as short as possible (the consumption of local food products). Sake, a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage, is produced in various regions of Japan. Sake lees, the leftover paste from sake production, is generated as a byproduct and has gained attention for its high nutritional value and potential as a functional food. Local sake lees was fed to meat-type chickens and its potential as a feed ingredient was evaluated. Experimental diets consisting of 20%, 30%, or 40% sake lees were produced by adding local sake lees to commercial feed. These were then fed to 3-week-old indigenous meat-type chickens for 2 weeks. Growth performance and expression of genes associated with intestinal barrier function were then analyzed. Body weight gain was identical between chickens fed any of the sake lees-supplemented diets and control chickens. Gastrointestinal structure was also not changed by sake lees-supplemented diets. Gene expression levels of claudin-5, cadherin1, occludin, avian beta-defensin 13 (AvBD13), and transforming growth factor-β1, which are related to intestinal barrier function, were higher in the group fed the 20% and 30% sake lees diets compared to those of the control group, but were similar between the group fed the 40% sake lees diet and those of the controls. Expression levels of AvBD1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 were also reduced in animals fed any of the three sake lees-supplemented diets. These results suggested that dietary supplementation with 20%-30% sake lees improved physical intestinal barrier function in indigenous meat-type chickens during short-term feeding.
In mammals, evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) affect skeletal muscle growth in an autocrine and paracrine manner. In the present study, fasting induced significant transcriptional changes in IGFBP genes in the skeletal muscles of layer and broiler chickens. Twelve hours of fasting significantly increased mRNA levels of IGFBP-1 in the biceps femoris (BF; largest skeletal muscle in the thigh) of both chicken types. mRNA levels of IGFBP-2 in both the pectoralis major (PM; breast muscle) and the BF significantly increased in layer chicks and tended to increase in broiler chicks. Fasting significantly decreased mRNA levels of IGFBP-3 in the BF and PM of both chicken type. mRNA levels of IGFBP-4 and -5 differed responses in the PM and BF of layer and broiler chicks. mRNA levels of most IGFBP genes were not affected by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in chicken embryonic myotubes, suggesting that skeletal muscle IGFBPs were transcriptionally regulated in an IGF-1-independent manner. Overall, these findings suggested that IGFBP-1, -2, and -3, which were expressed in skeletal muscles, played conserved roles in layer and broiler chicks.
Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) is a typical prebiotic; however, whether it protects chickens from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) challenge remains unknown. This study investigated the protective effects of XOS on the growth and gut health of EHEC-challenged broilers. A total of 270 1-day-old broilers were divided into three groups (nine replicates per group): negative control (were not challenged), positive control (EHEC-challenged from days 8 to 11), and XOS (EHEC-challenged broilers supplemented with 1.6 g/kg XOS). Samples were collected from broilers at 14 days. XOS addition alleviated EHEC-induced decline in growth performance, liver index, and the villus height:crypt depth ratio in both the duodenum and ileum of broilers. XOS also attenuated the increase in the relative mRNA expression of the ileal proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 and the tight junction protein occludin in EHEC-challenged broilers. Microbiota analysis revealed that EHEC challenge reduced or tended to reduce the abundance of several beneficial bacteria (such as Firmicutes, Fournierella, and Lysinibacillus) and increased or tended to increase the abundance of multiple harmful bacteria (such as Proteobacteria, Aquabacterium, Methylotenera, and Arthrobacter) in the ileum. However, XOS addition mitigated these changes and downregulated or tended to downregulate certain disease-related pathways of the ileal microbiota. In conclusion, XOS supplementation mitigated poor growth performance and intestinal damage in EHEC-challenged broilers, and was probably involved in the attenuation of gut microbiota disturbances that might protect against EHEC infection. These findings provide a basis for the application of XOS to limit the risk of EHEC infection.
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