Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Halima Abobaker, Nagmeldin A. Omer, Yun Hu, Abdulrahman A. Idriss, Ruqian Zhao
Summary: In this study, it was found that in ovo injection of betaine promotes adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis in chicken fetuses before hatching, which involves alterations in DNA methylation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Feng Guo, Mengna Jing, Aoyu Zhang, Yan Yu, Pei Gao, Qiuxia Wang, Li Wang, Zhiyong Xu, Jinyou Ma, Yanhong Zhang
Summary: This study found that betaine, a natural component, can reduce inflammation-related gene expression in the leg muscle of newly hatched broilers, and may alleviate LPS-induced muscle inflammation in chickens. The study suggests that the regulation of aberrant DNA methylation might be a possible mechanism.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanlin Li, Wenduo Jiang, Yue Feng, Lei Wu, Yimin Jia, Ruqian Zhao
Summary: Betaine supplementation alleviates high-fat diet-induced disruption of hepatic lipid and iron metabolism, which is associated with modification of CpG methylation on promoter of lipogenic and iron-metabolic genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artem Nurislamov, Timofey Lagunov, Maria Gridina, Alla Krasikova, Veniamin Fishman
Summary: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism involved in various genomic processes. This study investigated DNA methylation patterns in chicken diplotene oocytes and found that they closely resemble the genomic distribution observed in somatic tissues.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Chen Zhang, Qisheng Zuo, Xiaomin Gao, Cai Hu, Shujian Zhou, Chen Chen, Yichen Zou, Juanjuan Zhao, Yani Zhang, Bichun Li
Summary: Primordial germ cells' formation involves complex genetic and epigenetic factors, with Histone H3K4 methylation regulating a newly discovered lncRNA for accelerated formation. PGCs are crucial ancestors influenced by lncRNA and Histone methylation, particularly the lncCPSET1. The mechanism involves H3K4me2 dominating lncCPSET1 activation, broadening the understanding of its pre-transcriptional regulation.
Article
Biology
Junying Wang, Wen Zhang, Xiaoqin Liu, Minjee Kim, Ke Zhang, Robert Y. L. Tsai
Summary: This study identified differentially methylated genomic regions (DMRs) in mouse livers that are co-regulated by aging and regeneration using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). The DMRs showed opposite methylation direction changes between 2 and 8 months and 8 and 16 months. Inverse-regulated DMRs by aging and regeneration were found in the promoter/gene regions of 12 genes. These findings provide insights into the epigenomic changes underlying the biology of aging on liver regeneration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Xu, Hai Lin, Hongchao Jiao, Jingpeng Zhao, Xiaojuan Wang
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of chicken embryo thermal manipulation on intestinal inflammation in broilers under postnatal heat stress and investigate the role of TRPV4 in this process. The results suggest that embryo thermal manipulation can alleviate jejunal inflammation, possibly through reducing circulating LPS or increasing DNA methylation level of TRPV4. This study attempts to understand the mechanism involved in alleviation of adverse effects of heat stress during postnatal life through prenatal thermal manipulation and reveals the important role of epigenetics.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Chiao-Wei Lin, Ting-Wei Huang, Yu-Ju Peng, Yuan-Yu Lin, Harry John Mersmann, Shih-Torng Ding
Summary: The study involving different diet combinations in ISA female chickens showed that high-cholesterol and high-fat diets could lead to lipid metabolism disorders, increased cholesterol levels, hepatic lipid deposition, and hepatocyte damage, resulting in the development of fatty liver disease.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiao-Fei Peng, Shi-Feng Huang, Ling-Juan Chen, Lingqing Xu, Wen-Chu Ye
Summary: The early onset and progression of liver diseases can be driven by aberrant transcriptional regulation, with a strong epigenetic component. Inhibitors of different epigenetic regulators are being explored as potential candidates for preventing and treating liver diseases. Current research provides a perspective for identifying therapeutic targets and new hepatic biomarkers, bringing precision research and disease therapy into the modern era of epigenetics.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elena Moreno, Javier Martinez-Sanz, Rosa Martin-Mateos, Jorge Diaz-Alvarez, Sergio Serrano-Villar, Diego Burgos-Santamaria, Laura Luna, Maria Jesus Vivancos, Ana Moreno-Zamora, Maria Jesus Perez-Elias, Santiago Moreno, Fernando Dronda, Maria Luisa Montes, Matilde Sanchez-Conde
Summary: In this study, DNA samples from PLWH and non-PLWH participants with or without MAFLD were collected to measure biomarkers of aging, such as DNA methylation and telomere length. The results showed a significant association of these biomarkers in PLWH regardless of their MAFLD status. Therefore, it is suggested to include the quantification of these age-related factors in studies of comorbidities to better understand the effects of HIV infection and MAFLD and prevent their impact in the future.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tongyu Zhang, Chengfeng Li, Jianwen Deng, Yaxiong Jia, Lujiang Qu, Zhonghua Ning
Summary: Forced molting in laying hens is a stress response caused by external measures such as starvation, which results in production suspension, weightlessness, and molting. Epigenetic modifications and genetic regulation both play important roles in this reversible process, and there is interaction between them. In this study, DNA methylation was found to regulate gene expression during forced molting of laying hens, and specific genes related to cell aging, immunity, and development were identified.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Amir Ajoolabady, Hamid Aslkhodapasandhokmabad, Yuan Zhou, Jun Ren
Summary: This article discusses the pathogenesis of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD), with a focus on the role of epigenetic factors in the development of liver disorders. Through cellular and animal model studies, the alcohol-induced epigenetic modifications (AIEM) and their relationship with liver diseases are explored, and epigenetics-based therapeutic options for managing ARLD and ALD are proposed.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anna Kilanowski, Simon Kebede Merid, Sarina Abrishamcar, Dakotah Feil, Elisabeth Thiering, Melanie Waldenberger, Erik Melen, Annette Peters, Marie Standl, Anke Huls
Summary: This study investigated the role of DNA methylation (DNAm) in the development of allergies and its relationship with genetic and environmental factors. The results suggest that DNAm may be a cause or consequence of aeroallergen sensitization depending on genomic location. Allergy-related methylation risk scores were identified as potential biomarkers of disease, while differential DNAm in individual CpGs could be used as clinical predictors of disease development.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Zhijun Wang, Danfeng Cai, Xing Ju, Kan Li, Sisi Liang, Meixia Fang, Qinghua Nie
Summary: Betaine, a healthy source of methyl and glycine, is widely used as a feed additive to promote animal growth. This study explored the mechanism of betaine's growth-promoting effect on poultry and its regulation of muscle cells. The results showed that a low concentration of betaine inhibited myoblast cell proliferation but promoted myotube formation. RNA sequencing identified several betaine-affected genes, providing a theoretical basis for understanding betaine's regulation on chicken myogenesis in vitro.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wang Lu-Lu, Zhao Chun-Fang, Liu Chang-Jun, Zhang Hao, Lian Ling
Summary: This study found that the expression of CD79B gene decreased while the methylation level increased in tumorous spleens after MDV infection, suggesting that DNA methylation modification may affect the expression of CD79B gene.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hao-Yu Liu, Ping Hu, Yanwei Li, Ming-An Sun, Huan Qu, Qiufang Zong, Haotian Gu, Xiaobo Chen, Wenbin Bao, Demin Cai
Summary: This study revealed that dietary conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) can induce hypercholesterolemia (HCL) and liver steatosis through multiple pathways, with PPAR alpha, ROR gamma, and SREBP2 being important players in the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis programming. The small-molecule compound GW6471 was found to have a therapeutic effect for CLA-induced HCL by disrupting the physical association between PPAR alpha and SREBP2, thus affecting the expression of cholesterol biosynthesis genes.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Huan Qu, Qiufang Zong, Haifei Wang, Shenglong Wu, Demin Cai, Wenbin Bao
Summary: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection activates the expression of TFF1, which is necessary for the growth of porcine intestinal epithelial cells. TFF1 depletion leads to increased PEDV viral copy number and titer, as well as upregulation of antiviral and inflammatory cytokine genes. The decrease in TFF1 mRNA expression is associated with hypermethylation on the gene promoter.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Haotian Gu, Ping Hu, Yahui Zhao, Yaya Liu, Yi-Ting Wang, Abdelkareem A. Ahmed, Hao-Yu Liu, Demin Cai
Summary: Metabolic syndromes, including insulin resistance, obesity, and fatty liver, increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The pathogenesis of MetS is still unclear and there are limited effective drugs. This review focuses on the role of nuclear receptors in lipid metabolism and MetS, providing potential therapeutic applications.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ping Hu, Qiufang Zong, Yahui Zhao, Haotian Gu, YaYa Liu, Fang Gu, Hao-Yu Liu, Abdelkareem A. Ahmed, Wenbin Bao, Demin Cai
Summary: This study demonstrates that lactoferrin (LF) has a protective effect against deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced intestinal dysfunction by modulating the gut microbial community and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hao-Yu Liu, Hui-Xin Liu, Ju-Sheng Zheng, Demin Cai
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chenxi Li, Xuan Chen, Jingbo Hu, Daoyuan Jiang, Demin Cai, Yanhua Li
Summary: This study established a reverse genetics system for the GI JEV strain (YZ-1) and generated a reporter virus (rGI-Gluc) by inserting a gaussia luciferase (Gluc) expression cassette into the JEV genome. The reporter virus remained genetically stable for at least ten passages in vitro and was used for antiviral drug screening and neutralizing antibody detection against the GI JEV.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Qiufang Zong, Huan Qu, Yahui Zhao, Haoyu Liu, Shenglong Wu, Shuai Wang, Wenbin Bao, Demin Cai
Summary: This study aims to investigate whether a histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaBu), can protect the porcine liver from deoxynivalenol (DON) exposure by modulating cholesterol metabolism. The results showed that NaBu effectively restored parameters associated with liver injury, cholesterol content, and key genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Huan Qu, Qiufang Zong, Ping Hu, Zhaojian Li, Haifei Wang, Shenglong Wu, Hao-Yu Liu, Wenbin Bao, Demin Cai
Summary: The serum levels of cholesterol and its intermediates are important indicators of metabolism-related disorders. In this study, it was found that desmosterol (DES), the most abundant intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis and highly enriched in red/brown algae, plays a crucial role in modulating genes related to oxidative stress and inflammatory response in ileum epithelial cells. DES treatment resulted in down-regulation of genes involved in oxidative and cholesterol homeostasis pathways, decreased cellular ROS levels, and upregulation of key inflammatory genes. DES also elevated the expression of nuclear receptor ROR-gamma, suggesting its potential role as a mediator. These findings highlight the physiological actions of DES in inflammatory and oxidative processes, and its potential applications in anti-oxidation treatment and immunotherapy in the future.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Cuipeng Zhu, Kaiqi Li, Xiao-Xu Peng, Tong-Jia Yao, Zi-Yu Wang, Ping Hu, Demin Cai, Hao-Yu Liu
Summary: Berberine (BBR), an alkaloid extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma, has various pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-obesity, and even antitumor effects. Recent studies have also focused on the modulatory effects of BBR on nutritional immune responses. This mini-review summarizes the latest research on the inflammation, gut microbes, macrophage polarization, and immune responses related to BBR's tools in the pathogenesis and therapy of ulcerative colitis and cancer in the past 5 years. The therapeutic efficacy and anti-inflammatory actions of BBR are also discussed for future clinical applications.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhaojian Li, Yahui Zhao, Qiufang Zong, Ping Hu, Wenbin Bao, Hao-Yu Liu, Demin Cai
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactoferrin (LF) on spermatogenesis and the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in deoxynivalenol (DON)-exposed mice. The results showed that LF administration restored sperm production, attenuated oxidative stress and reduced breakages in adhesion junctions caused by DON. It also improved antioxidant capacity and modified the inflammatory response and cell adhesion genes.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Cuipeng Zhu, Jiacheng Yao, Miaonan Zhu, Chuyang Zhu, Long Yuan, Zhaojian Li, Demin Cai, Shihao Chen, Ping Hu, Hao-Yu Liu
Summary: Supplementation of Lactobacillus spp. has positive effects on the growth performance and intestinal morphology of piglets, improving average daily feed intake, average daily gain, gain-to-feed ratio, villus height, and the V/C ratio. This suggests that Lactobacillus-based probiotics have the potential to be alternatives to antibiotics in pig production.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Demin Cai, Hao-Yu Liu, Haibo Dong, Abdelkareem A. Ahmed
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Demin Cai, Meijuan Tu, Dan Wan
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yanli Zhu, Wei Wang, Ming Li, Jiamin Zhang, Lili Ji, Zhiping Zhao, Rui Zhang, Demin Cai, Lin Chen
Summary: Meat spoilage is a complex microbial ecological process that can lead to product waste and health issues. Understanding spoilage microorganisms and their control methods is necessary for delaying spoilage and developing new preservation strategies. This mini-review summarizes the diversity of spoilage microorganisms in livestock, poultry, and fish meat, as well as the approaches to inhibit spoilage.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jian Jin, Mengxiao Xue, Yuchen Tang, Liangliang Zhang, Ping Hu, Yun Hu, Demin Cai, Xugang Luo, Ming-an Sun
Summary: Heat stress can cause intestinal inflammation, impaired barrier integrity, and decreased immunity in poultry. Zinc has been shown to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress, but the effects of different sources and levels of zinc supplementation on the heat stress capacity of Chinese landraces remained unclear. This study investigated the effects of zinc sulfate (ZnS) and zinc proteinate with moderate chelation strength (Zn-Prot M) on the intestinal immune function of Xueshan chickens, an important local breed in China. The results showed that both ZnS and Zn-Prot M can effectively reduce IL-6 secretion in the serum, with 60 mg/kg being the optimal dose. Zn-Prot M was superior to ZnS in improving intestinal immunity, and 60 mg/kg was the optimal addition dose.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jesper Tessin, Judith Rohde, Arne Jung, Nicole Kemper, Jochen Schulz
Summary: In this study, samples from poultry house environment and culled birds were collected, and E. cecorum was successfully isolated. The principle of isolating the pathogen by streaking on a chromogenic agar may motivate researchers to investigate transmission routes and optimize biosecurity measures.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Junqin Zhang, Zimin Xie, Yanlin Pan, Zuoxin Chen, Yunzhen Huang, Linlin Li, Jiawen Dong, Yong Xiang, Qi Zhai, Minhua Sun, Xingying Li, Shujian Huang, Ming Liao
Summary: In recent years, there has been an increase in the occurrence of fowl adenovirus 2 (FAdV-2) in China, posing a significant threat to the poultry industry. This study investigated the epidemiology, phylogenetic relationship, genomic characteristics, and pathogenicity of FAdV-2. The results showed that FAdV-2 was the most commonly detected serotype among various FAdV serotypes. Genetic analysis revealed that these FAdV-2 strains formed a distinct branch within the FAdV-D group and had a high nucleotide similarity with reference strains. Recombination analysis identified recombination events between FAdV-2 and FAdV-11 in some strains. Pathogenicity experiments demonstrated that a recombinant FAdV-2 strain caused a high mortality rate and more severe disease in chickens. These findings contribute to our understanding of FAdV-2 and provide a basis for vaccine development.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ebtsam Iraqi, Ali Abdel Hady, Nadia Elsayed, Hanaa Khalil, Amina El-Saadany, Karim El-Sabrout
Summary: Thermal manipulation during egg incubation, particularly at 12 to 18 days, has positive effects on embryonic development, hatching characteristics, chick quality, as well as posthatch thermotolerance and performance.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yong Liu, Mingxin Song, He Bai, Chunhua Wang, Fei Wang, Qi Yuan
Summary: Dietary curcumin supplementation can significantly improve egg quality of quails in the late laying period, primarily by improving lipid metabolism and selectively regulating the intestinal microbial community.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lei Zhang, Zhixuan Song, Peiyao Li, Xingju Song, Xinming Tang, Dandan Hu
Summary: This study evaluated the vaccine potential of recombinant proteins for avian coccidiosis caused by Eimeria. The results showed that the rEten5-B protein can trigger immune protection against E. tenella and may be a potential and effective subunit vaccine for the control of coccidiosis in poultry.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Milan Kumar Sharma, Amit Kumar Singh, Doyun Goo, Venkata Sesha Reddy Choppa, Hanseo Ko, Hanyi Shi, Woo Kyun Kim
Summary: The study investigates the effect of Eimeria infection on gastrointestinal physiology, growth performance, and egg production of Hy-Line W-36 laying hens during peak production. Results show that Eimeria infection negatively affects body weight, feed intake, immune response, and nutrient transporter gene expression. Egg production temporarily ceases in hens infected with high and medium-high dosages of Eimeria.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Elwy A. Ashour, Mahmoud Kamal, Hayman A. A. Altaie, Ayman A. Swelum, Gamaleldin M. Suliman, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of CP and ME on the performance and nutritional value of Japanese quail lay chicken. The results showed that protein and energy levels significantly influenced all productive outcomes except feed conversion ratio. The combination of dietary energy and protein levels had a substantial effect on all egg quality trials evaluated. It is recommended to feed layer Japanese quail between the ages of 8 and 20 weeks during the summer with a dietary energy content of 2,900 kcal ME/kg and 20% CP.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. E. Doornweerd, R. F. Veerkamp, B. de Klerk, M. van der Sluis, A. C. Bouwman, E. D. Ellen, G. Kootstra
Summary: Tracking group-housed individual broilers using video can provide valuable information on their health, welfare, and performance. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis on broiler tracking on video and potential tracking errors, highlighting the potential and challenges of phenotyping broiler locomotion. The results emphasized the importance of addressing tracking errors, potential algorithm improvements, and the need for an external animal identification system for efficient locomotion phenotyping.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jiayu Wu, Yanan Wang, Yu An, Changyu Tian, Lingfeng Wang, Zuhong Liu, Desheng Qi
Summary: This study compared the gene expression differences in liver tissues of laying hens at different ages using RNA sequencing, and found that the transport and metabolism of amino acids changed during the growing period, which influenced the growth and development of the hens.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Raabe, G. Raveendran, W. Otten, K. Homeyer, T. Bartels
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different flicker frequencies on the behavior, performance, and stress response in male turkeys. The results showed that flicker frequencies of 165 Hz or higher had no detrimental effect on growth performance, injurious pecking, or endocrine stress response in the turkeys.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Adamu Mani Isa, Yanyan Sun, Yuanmei Wang, Yunlei Li, Jingwei Yuan, Aixin Ni, Hui Ma, Lei Shi, Hailai Hagos Tesfay, Yunhe Zong, Panlin Wang, Pingzhuang Ge, Jilan Chen
Summary: This study sequenced mRNAs and lncRNAs in the ovary stroma of specific chicken breeds and their reciprocal crossbreds to understand the molecular mechanism of heterosis for egg production. Results showed that genes with nonadditive expression were related to follicle growth and atresia as well as oxidative stress in the crossbred hens.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Zhepeng Wang, Qiu Chen, Yiwei Wang, Yulu Wang, Ruifang Liu
Summary: The study investigates the functional variants associated with chicken eggshell color in the SLCO1B3 gene by measuring the eggshell color of Lueyang black-boned chickens and analyzing the genetic data. It identifies 15 variants in SLCO1B3 that are significantly associated with eggshell color. However, the functional analysis shows that one specific variant, 1B3_SNP108, does not have a significant effect on promoter activity. This study highlights the importance of SLCO1B3 and its variants in breeding eggshell color.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
P. Yin, Q. Tong, B. M. Li, W. C. Zheng, Y. Wang, H. Q. Peng, X. L. Xue, S. Q. Wei
Summary: This study investigated the welfare and health of laying hens in a multitier system. The results showed that the spatial distribution of hens changed with increasing age, and lower-ranking hens preferred to stay in lower tiers to avoid competition but still had access to resources. This improved the welfare and health of the hens near the end of the laying cycle.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Wenwen Liang, Siqiong Jie, Yiqin Wang, Xiaowei Wen, Yanling Xiong, Xiaoxi Lin, Zhengrong Lv
Summary: This study examined the effect of risk perceptions on preventive behavior among vendors in the live poultry wholesale market and the live poultry retail market in Guangdong Province using the health belief model and structural equation modeling. The results showed that perceived severity and perceived benefits positively influenced vendors' self-efficacy in the wholesale market, while perceived barriers negatively affected self-efficacy in both the wholesale and retail markets. Moreover, cues to action mediated the relationship between perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy, and also mediated the effect of perceived susceptibility among wholesale market vendors.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shreeya Sharma, Raveendra R. Kulkarni, Shayan Sharif, Hosni Hassan, Mohammadali Alizadeh, Scott Pratt, Khaled Abdelaziz
Summary: The study investigates the impact of exposing chick embryos to antigens via in ovo delivery of poultry-specific lactobacilli on the expression of genes associated with early bursal development and maturation. Results indicate that the supplementation of poultry-specific lactobacilli to chick embryos can accelerate the development and immunological maturation of the bursa of Fabricius.