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A cell wall preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC‐12 stimulates β‐defensin expression in newly hatched broiler chicks
Author(s) -
SAKAI Yuri,
TSUKAHARA Takamitsu,
MATSUBARA Noritaka,
USHIDA Kazunari
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2006.00410.x
Subject(s) - broiler , lysozyme , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , defensin , colonization , immune system , bursa of fabricius , enterococcus faecalis , immunology , bacteria , zoology , antimicrobial , biochemistry , staphylococcus aureus , genetics
In our previous study, a cell wall preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC‐12 (EC‐12) prevented the colonization of vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE) in newly hatched broiler chicks. Relatively early prevention against VRE colonization by EC‐12 administration may be related to the enhanced innate immune system. In this study we examined the effect of EC‐12 on the kinetics of immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration in the cecal digesta of chicks from 1 day to 14 days old to evaluate humoral immunity. We also examined the effect of EC‐12 on β‐defensin mRNA expression and lysozyme production. The IgA concentration in the cecal digesta showed a decline in chicks from 2 to 8 days old and then a recovery up to when they were 14 days old. The concentration tended to be higher in EC‐12‐administered chicks than in control chicks at 14 days old. EC‐12 administration did not stimulate the lysozyme activities in the alimentary tract. However, β‐defensin mRNA expression in the tongue and the bursa of Fabricius was higher in chicks administered EC‐12 than in the control chicks at 5 days old. These results indicate that β‐defensin may be one of the major defense mechanisms inhibiting VRE colonization in young chicks.