EPIGENETIC REGULATION OF HOST DEFENSE PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS

The overall goal of this grant is to evaluate the efficacy of these compounds in HDP induction and bacterial clearance in a chicken model of necrotic enteritis. Two specific objectives are proposed. Objective 1 is to identify the most efficacious epigenetic compounds and their combinations to induce HDP synthesis without triggering inflammation, while Objective 2 is to subsequently demonstrate selected epigenetic compounds to be as efficient as in-feed antibiotics in promoting gut health and pathogen clearance. Collectively, the completion of both objectives will pay the way for the development of these epigenetic compounds as novel antibiotic alternatives for livestock use.