Effects of GIT development on mucosal immune competence

 

Many omnivorous birds begin foraging immediately after hatch. This means that they become immediately exposed to adult-type food and environmental bacteria at a time where the intestinal tract is still tuned to an embryonic environment. Hence, to survive, the digestive tract of these birds must undergo rapid development in terms of digestive and protective capacities. The goals of our research are directed towards describing the mechanism by which GALT undergoes this rapid development, and how it protects the hatchling from succumbing at an early age to environmental pathogens. To investigate the development of the avian GALT we have developed numerous tools that allow investigation of GALT development at the level of the gene, protein, and cell.

Several of our major findings are:

• Adaptive immunity in the avian GALT becomes fully functional (only) during the second week of life.

• Innate immune systems and maternal antibodies protect chicks during the first week of life.

• Impaired gut development leads to delayed maturation of GALT.

• Bacterial colonization has a significant impact on the development of GALT in the hindgut.

 

Key Publication: Bar Shira, E & Friedman A. 2006. Development and adaptations of innate immunity in the gastrointestinal tract of the newly hatched chicken. Develop. Comp. Immunol. 30: 930-41.