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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1458579
This article is part of the Research Topic Innovative Approaches to Combat Bacterial Drug Resistance in Livestock and Poultry Farming View all articles

Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Berberine on Enteritis Caused by Salmonella in Poultry

Provisionally accepted
Li Yang Li Yang Jingwen Sun Jingwen Sun Tong Yang Tong Yang Xumei Zhang Xumei Zhang Chenghui Xu Chenghui Xu Yaya Wei Yaya Wei Yongshuai Li Yongshuai Li Yan Zhao Yan Zhao Sheng Zhang Sheng Zhang Quanxin Wu Quanxin Wu Huijun Shi Huijun Shi Qiang Fu Qiang Fu Xia Lining Xia Lining *
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The objective of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of berberine on Salmonella enteritis in broiler chickens and to preliminarily elucidate its mechanisms of action. Blood samples were collected from 21-day-old and 35-day-old Sanhuang male chicks to measure immune and biochemical indicators, as well as to calculate the organ coefficients for the liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and thymus. The caecal microbiota was analysed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and transcriptome sequencing was conducted. Compared with the positive control group (S), the berberine-treated group (BS) presented increased serum IgM levels, serum IgG levels, and total antioxidant capacity, and berberine ameliorated the increase in the thymus index caused by Salmonella administration. The addition of berberine to the diet increased the abundance of beneficial bacterial genera, including Bacteroides and Lactobacillus, and it decreased the abundance of harmful bacterial genera, including Faecalibacterium and Streptococcus. Transcriptome analysis revealed that gene expression in the S and BS groups was associated with T cell selection and B cell receptor signalling pathways, which are enriched primarily in multiple immune-related signalling pathways, including the B cell receptor signalling pathway, NF-kappa B signalling pathway, intestinal immune network for IgA production, asthma, and African trypanosomiasis. The significantly expressed genes included ATAD5, ERP29, MGST2, PIK3CA, and HSP90AA1. The present study demonstrated that berberine has a good therapeutic effect on Salmonella infection in chicks, as it inhibits the occurrence and development of Salmonella-induced intestinal inflammation by regulating the balance of the gut microbiota and the expression of related genes, including ATAD5, ERP29, MGST2, PIK3CA, and HSP90AA1.

    Keywords: Berberine, salmonellosis, intestinal flora, Transcriptome, broiler

    Received: 02 Jul 2024; Accepted: 07 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Yang, Sun, Yang, Zhang, Xu, Wei, Li, Zhao, Zhang, Wu, Shi, Fu and Lining. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Xia Lining, College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, China

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