| Description: |
Arsenault, Ryan ; In this project, I aimed to expand our understanding of the immunometabolic effects and the mechanism of action of feed additives in broiler chickens’ gastrointestinal health. Poultry is the number one consumed meat in the world, thus improved production efficiency and health are important to feed the world. I determined the effects of protected biofactors and antioxidants (P(BF+AOx)), and protected biofactors and antioxidants with protected organic acids and essential oils (P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO)) on the immune and metabolic health of Ross 308 broiler chickens. In the jejunum, the kinome peptide array data analysis showed increased activity of cytoskeletal, cell growth and proliferation proteins, and metabolic signaling in the jejunum of P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treated chickens. There was a significant decrease in IL-6 gene expression in the jejunum of P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) samples compared to control at day 15. P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treatments in the jejunum showed strong immunomodulatory effects, perhaps to control inflammation. P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) improves gut health via growth and metabolic signaling in the jejunum while inducing stronger immunomodulation. While in the liver, the kinome peptide array analysis and gene expression showed stimulation of the interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) signal transduction for host protection via heightened immune response while maintaining immunomodulation and reduction of damaging inflammation in both P(BF+AOx) and P(BF+AOx)+P(OA+EO) treated groups at day 15. Significant changes were observed via IL-6R signaling in the metabolic profiles of both groups when compared to control with no significant differences when compared to each other. These two feed additives induced immunometabolic homeostasis predominantly via the IL-6 receptor family signaling cascade in the liver. ☐ The effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on metabolism the gastrointestinal tract and immune cells were also studied. Using the kinome peptide array, I examined the proteomic effects of 0.1% SB ... |