Integrative Functional and Physiological Genomics of Poultry

Objective

To determine the functional mechanisms of genetic changes as a result of selection and gene introgression.

More information

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Campylobacter is commensal bacteria in chickens. It can cause diarrhea in human. Genetically resistant birds using associated genes can be selected to improve resistance to bacterial infection in chickens. Functional genomics tools can be used to detect resistant genes or signal pathway related to bacterial infection. Eventually, the expected results can be used to improve food safety.

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APPROACH: Birds will be challenged with Campylobacter jejuni. Tissues will be collected to isolate RNA for microarray analysis. Differentially expressed genes will be detected using bioinformatic and statistical methods. The outcome of this study are expected to genetically improve resistance to bacterial infection in chickens.

Investigators

Zhou, Huaijun

Institution

Texas A&M University

Start date

2007

End date

2012

Funding Source

Nat'l. Inst. of Food and Agriculture

Project number

TEX07037

Accession number

213526