Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>

This review provides an integrative framework for understanding flaxseed (<i>Linum utassitissimum</i>) as an antimicrobial alternative for poultry production. We begin by familiarizing the reader with the global legislation of antibiotics in animal husbandry; highlighting gaps and curren...

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Main Authors: William C. Weston, Karen H. Hales, Dale B. Hales
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/732
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author William C. Weston
Karen H. Hales
Dale B. Hales
author_facet William C. Weston
Karen H. Hales
Dale B. Hales
author_sort William C. Weston
collection DOAJ
description This review provides an integrative framework for understanding flaxseed (<i>Linum utassitissimum</i>) as an antimicrobial alternative for poultry production. We begin by familiarizing the reader with the global legislation of antibiotics in animal husbandry; highlighting gaps and current issues for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> (<i>S. enterica</i>) and <i>Eimeria</i> (coccidiosis-inducing). We then discuss the natural, symbiotic characteristics of the Galliformes order (chicken-like birds) and <i>Linum</i> (the flaxes). The key immunological themes in this review include: (i) flaxseed’s regulation of innate and adaptive immunity in chickens, (ii) flaxseed’s ability to accelerate chicken recovery from infection with <i>S. enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>, and (iii) flaxseed’s strengthening of immunity via vitamin B6 antagonism. Research indicates that whole flaxseed increases adaptive immune capacity by augmenting cecal Bacteroides and short-chain fatty acids while also attenuating the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in chickens. Moreover, flaxseed accelerates chicken recovery from infection with <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis or <i>Eimeria tenella</i>; however, future work is needed to better understand (i) defatted flaxseed’s superior performance against <i>Eimeria</i> species and (ii) <i>Eimeria maxima</i>’s resilience against whole flaxseed. In the context of vitamin B6 antagonism, we propose that 15% whole flaxseed overcomes <i>S. enterica’s</i> insult to estrogen synthesis by sustaining the activity of phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase (PEMT) in liver. We also propose that 10% defatted flaxseed (as a metformin homologue) strengthens chicken immunity by safeguarding gonadal physiology and by increasing plasma thymidine bioavailability. The concepts in this review can be used as a template for conducting advanced immunological studies in poultry science.
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spelling doaj-art-0f3bc0cf94cb4b938df3f039f0d9a0bf2024-11-26T17:57:54ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452024-10-014611123221234210.3390/cimb46110732Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>William C. Weston0Karen H. Hales1Dale B. Hales2Department of Molecular, Cellular & Systemic Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USADepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USADepartment of Molecular, Cellular & Systemic Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USAThis review provides an integrative framework for understanding flaxseed (<i>Linum utassitissimum</i>) as an antimicrobial alternative for poultry production. We begin by familiarizing the reader with the global legislation of antibiotics in animal husbandry; highlighting gaps and current issues for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> (<i>S. enterica</i>) and <i>Eimeria</i> (coccidiosis-inducing). We then discuss the natural, symbiotic characteristics of the Galliformes order (chicken-like birds) and <i>Linum</i> (the flaxes). The key immunological themes in this review include: (i) flaxseed’s regulation of innate and adaptive immunity in chickens, (ii) flaxseed’s ability to accelerate chicken recovery from infection with <i>S. enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>, and (iii) flaxseed’s strengthening of immunity via vitamin B6 antagonism. Research indicates that whole flaxseed increases adaptive immune capacity by augmenting cecal Bacteroides and short-chain fatty acids while also attenuating the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in chickens. Moreover, flaxseed accelerates chicken recovery from infection with <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis or <i>Eimeria tenella</i>; however, future work is needed to better understand (i) defatted flaxseed’s superior performance against <i>Eimeria</i> species and (ii) <i>Eimeria maxima</i>’s resilience against whole flaxseed. In the context of vitamin B6 antagonism, we propose that 15% whole flaxseed overcomes <i>S. enterica’s</i> insult to estrogen synthesis by sustaining the activity of phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase (PEMT) in liver. We also propose that 10% defatted flaxseed (as a metformin homologue) strengthens chicken immunity by safeguarding gonadal physiology and by increasing plasma thymidine bioavailability. The concepts in this review can be used as a template for conducting advanced immunological studies in poultry science.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/732infectious diseasepoultry immunologyone-carbon metabolismchicken metabolismpoultry industryantimicrobial
spellingShingle William C. Weston
Karen H. Hales
Dale B. Hales
Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
infectious disease
poultry immunology
one-carbon metabolism
chicken metabolism
poultry industry
antimicrobial
title Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
title_full Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
title_fullStr Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
title_short Utilizing Flaxseed as an Antimicrobial Alternative in Chickens: Integrative Review for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Eimeria</i>
title_sort utilizing flaxseed as an antimicrobial alternative in chickens integrative review for i salmonella enterica i and i eimeria i
topic infectious disease
poultry immunology
one-carbon metabolism
chicken metabolism
poultry industry
antimicrobial
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/732
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