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B15015/B15016/B15017: Host acute stress responses and the regulation of C. jejuni virulence in the avian gut

Thursday 10 August 2006

This research project will assess the effect of noradrenaline, produced by poultry in response to production stress, on Campylobacter jejuni gut colonisation in broiler chickens.

Study Duration : March 2006 to February 2009

Contractor : University of Bristol, University of Leicester and Institute of Food Research

Background


In order to begin to control campylobacter infection in broiler chickens and reduce the risk of food poisoning to consumers it is important to have a better understanding of how campylobacter infects birds.

This study will provide information on the factors involved in campylobacter colonisation of the gut in broiler chickens, how host stress responses modulate campylobacter pathogenicity and the impact of production methods on infection in broilers. This could lead to the development of new intervention measures to control campylobacter and improvements in animal welfare to reduce stress.

This is a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/FSA research project funded under the Government Partnership Award scheme. The project will investigate the hypothesis that noradrenaline, produced by poultry in response to production stresses such as thinning/transport/etc, makes it easier for C. jejuni gut to colonise the travel across the gut epithelium to other tissues. This leads to increased campylobacter numbers in the bird and thus increases the risk of disease transmission from bird to human.

Research Approach

The primary objectives are to:

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