Obesity-associated gut microbiota is enriched in Lactobacillus reuteri and depleted in Bifidobacterium animalis and Methanobrevibacter smithii

/pdf/obesity-associated-gut-microbiota-is-enriched-in-2t4pcojytj.pdf

Restricting the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals and its associations with antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals and human beings: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Gompertz model is well known and widely used in many aspects of biology. It has been frequently used to describe the growth of animals and plants, as well as the number or volume of bacteria and cancer cells. Numerous parametrisations and re-parametrisations of varying usefulness are found in the literature, whereof the Gompertz-Laird is one of the more commonly used. Here, we review, present, and discuss the many re-parametrisations and some parameterisations of the Gompertz model, which we divide into Ti (type I)- and W0 (type II)-forms. In the W0-form a starting-point parameter, meaning birth or hatching value (W0), replaces the inflection-time parameter (Ti). We also propose new "unified" versions (U-versions) of both the traditional Ti -form and a simplified W0-form. In these, the growth-rate constant represents the relative growth rate instead of merely an unspecified growth coefficient. We also present U-versions where the growth-rate parameters return absolute growth rate (instead of relative). The new U-Gompertz models are special cases of the Unified-Richards (U-Richards) model and thus belong to the Richards family of U-models. As U-models, they have a set of parameters, which are comparable across models in the family, without conversion equations. The improvements are simple, and may seem trivial, but are of great importance to those who study organismal growth, as the two new U-Gompertz forms give easy and fast access to all shape parameters needed for describing most types of growth following the shape of the Gompertz model.

/pdf/the-use-of-gompertz-models-in-growth-analyses-and-new-2aebk9wv1y.pdf

The use of Gompertz models in growth analyses, and new Gompertz-model approach: An addition to the Unified-Richards family

The increase of productivity in the poultry industry has been accompanied by various impacts, including emergence of a large variety of pathogens and bacterial resistance. These impacts are in part due to the indiscriminate use of chemotherapeutic agents as a result of management practices in rearing cycles. This review provides a summary of the use of probiotics for prevention of bacterial diseases in poultry, as well as demonstrating the potential role of probiotics in the growth performance and immune response of poultry, safety and wholesomeness of dressed poultry meat evidencing consumer's protection, with a critical evaluation of results obtained to date.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/10/8/3531/pdf?view=inline

The role of probiotics in the poultry industry

This paper reviews recent advances on the use and mode of action of probiotics (direct-fed microbials) in poultry. The addition of probiotics to the diet has been found to improve growth performance and feed conversion in broilers, and egg mass, egg weight and egg size in layers. The mode of action of probiotics in poultry includes (i) maintaining normal intestinal microflora by competitive exclusion and antagonism; (ii) altering metabolism by increasing digestive enzyme activity and decreasing bacterial enzyme activity and ammonia production; (iii) improving feed intake and digestion; and (iv) neutralizing enterotoxins and stimulating the immune system.

/pdf/probiotics-in-poultry-modes-of-action-n2xbvg8b6b.pdf

Probiotics in poultry: modes of action

Production Variables and Nutrient Retention in Single Comb White Leghorn Laying Pullets Fed Diets Supplemented with Direct-Fed Microbials

Chromosomal segmental copy number variation (CNV) has been recently recognized as a very important source of genetic variability. Some CNV loci involve genes or conserved regulatory elements. Compelling evidence indicates that CNVs impact genome functions. The chicken is a very important farm animal species which has also served as a model for biological and biomedical research for hundreds of years. A map of CNVs in chickens could facilitate the identification of chromosomal regions that segregate for important agricultural and disease phenotypes. Ninety six CNVs were identified in three lines of chickens (Cornish Rock broiler, Leghorn and Rhode Island Red) using whole genome tiling array. These CNVs encompass 16 Mb (1.3%) of the chicken genome. Twenty six CNVs were found in two or more animals. Whereas most small sized CNVs reside in none coding sequences, larger CNV regions involve genes (for example prolactin receptor, aldose reductase and zinc finger proteins). These results suggest that chicken CNVs potentially affect agricultural or disease related traits. An initial map of CNVs for the chicken has been described. Although chicken genome is approximately one third the size of a typical mammalian genome, the pattern of chicken CNVs is similar to that of mammals. The number of CNVs detected per individual was also similar to that found in dogs, mice, rats and macaques. A map of chicken CNVs provides new information on genetic variations for the understanding of important agricultural traits and disease.

/pdf/an-initial-map-of-chromosomal-segmental-copy-number-45vgeiii6b.pdf

An initial map of chromosomal segmental copy number variations in the chicken

https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=agricultural-and-environmental-sciences-faculty

Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers

Performance of Single Comb White Leghorn fed a diet supplemented with a live microbial during the growth and egg laying phases

Obesity and osteoporosis are two alarming health disorders prominent among middle and old age populations, and the numbers of those affected by these two disorders are increasing. It is estimated that more than 600 million adults are obese and over 200 million people have osteoporosis worldwide. Interestingly, both of these abnormalities share some common features including a genetic predisposition, and a common origin: bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Obesity is characterized by the expression of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), growth hormone (GH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), angiotensin II (Ang II), 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT), Advance glycation end products (AGE), and myostatin, which exert their effects by modulating the signaling pathways within bone and muscle. Chemical messengers (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, AGE, leptins) that are upregulated or downregulated as a result of obesity have been shown to act as negative regulators of osteoblasts, osteocytes and muscles, as well as positive regulators of osteoclasts. These additive effects of obesity ultimately increase the risk for osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. The aim of this review is to identify the potential cellular mechanisms through which obesity may facilitate osteoporosis, muscle atrophy and bone fractures.

/pdf/molecular-mechanisms-of-obesity-induced-osteoporosis-and-3ho49pstkr.pdf

Samuel N. Nahashon

Papers

Production Variables and Nutrient Retention in Single Comb White Leghorn Laying Pullets Fed Diets Supplemented with Direct-Fed Microbials

An initial map of chromosomal segmental copy number variations in the chicken

Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers

Performance of Single Comb White Leghorn fed a diet supplemented with a live microbial during the growth and egg laying phases

Molecular Mechanisms of Obesity-Induced Osteoporosis and Muscle Atrophy