Nutritional sensitivity of intestinal antimicrobial peptide production for enhanced gut health in poultry

This project is dedicated to assessing the effectiveness of novel feed additives, specifically b-glucan and oligosaccharides derived from yeast and cereal, in stimulating host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) within the natural environment.

The objective is to understand how nutritional supplementation with these feed additives can influence the expression of avian host AMPs in the gut, particularly under mild sub-clinical disease conditions. The study has three primary objectives.

Firstly, it aims to enhance broiler immune and metabolic responses in antibiotic-free diets by optimising the structure and function of b-glucan.

Secondly, the study seeks to understand the mode of action of avian antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the gut and establish a diagnostic marker to ensure consistent commercial application of novel feed additives.

Lastly, the research aims to establish a correlation between the concentration and inhibitory capabilities of these AMPs against bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens in the avian gut.