Scientists have found a natural gut compound that can boost the immune system of chickens. It helps them fight off many types of harmful bacteria. The research was led by the University of Bristol. It was published in The Journal of Immunology. Experts say this could be an important step for sustainable farming. The battle against drug-resistant infections may also benefit from it.
Farmers have long struggled to protect chickens from common diseases like Salmonella and avian pathogenic E. coli. Antibiotics are often used to prevent these infections. But using too many antibiotics is a serious problem. It leads to antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. This makes drugs less effective for both animals and humans.
The research team studied immune cells taken from chickens. These cells are called macrophages. They serve as the body’s initial defense against germs. The scientists focused on a substance called sodium butyrate. This is a short-chain fatty acid. It is made naturally by bacteria living in the gut.
The team exposed young, developing macrophages to sodium butyrate. This process seemed to “train” the cells. It taught them to respond more strongly to future infections. The results were striking. Treated cells became much better at killing dangerous bacteria. This included several strains of E. coli, Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Timing turned out to be crucial. The immune boost only worked when cells were still young and developing. Once cells were fully mature, the same treatment had no effect. This finding provides researchers useful clues. It shows how the method might need to be timed on real farms.
Many treatments that “train” the immune system cause a lot of inflammation. This inflammation can damage tissue. Sodium butyrate appears to work differently. It uses a cleaner, two-part approach. First, it increases reactive oxygen species. These are molecules that help destroy bacteria. Second, it accelerates a process called autophagy. This is a kind of cellular clean-up system. It traps and breaks down invading germs.
Professor Shahriar Behboudi is an immunology expert at the Bristol Veterinary School. He is also the senior author of the study. He said the findings suggest that trained immunity works in more ways than scientists previously believed. He explained that a natural gut compound can reprogram immune cells through a gentler pathway. This avoids the damage caused by too much inflammation. He said the discovery opens up new ways to support animal health naturally.
Dr. James Adams is a research fellow at the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He is the first author of the paper. He said the spread of disease among chickens is a growing concern. Bacterial infections harm animal health and welfare. They also cause major economic losses. They can disrupt food supply chains too.
Dr. Adams added that antimicrobial resistance is making it harder to control disease in poultry. Because of these challenges, new methods are urgently needed. He said finding natural tools to fight infection is now essential.
The study offers useful guidance for the poultry industry. It could also help shape future farming policy. Since poultry is a major source of food worldwide, protecting flocks from disease matters greatly. Using natural compounds like sodium butyrate could support both food security and sustainable farming practices.
The researchers hope their findings will lead to new gut-health strategies. These could become part of everyday farming practices. The goal is to improve animal welfare. It could also help reduce the world’s dependence on antibiotics.
The study was a joint effort. It involved the University of Bristol, the University of Surrey, and the Pirbright Institute. Funding came from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The British Egg Marketing Board Research and Education Trust also supported the work.
