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<OL> <LI> Develop an understanding of the effects of feed withdrawal and alternative molt
techniques on gut physiology and change in Salmonella enteritidis receptor
expression. <LI>Dissection of the cytokine, neuroendocrine, and endocrine interactions
in chicken lymphocytes and gut lymphoid tissues and how this is affected by molting.
<LI>Elucidate the development of systemical and mucosal immunity in the chicken to
infection by S. enteritidis and how it is affected molting. <LI>Dissect the lymphocyte
population changes gut tissues in response to S. enteritidis infection and how it is
affected molting. <LI>Define the cytokine/chemokine profile of gut tissues in response
to S. enteritidis infection and how the profile changes in molted birds.
Approach: Identification of gross and histological organ changes in tissues collected during
feed withdrawal and alternative molting methods and effect of molting methods on S.
enteritidis binding and penetration of tissues. Molecular examination of alterations
in cytokine, neuroendocrine, and endocrine hormone expression and expression of these
receptors in immune cells collected from hens molted with feed withdrawal and
alternative molt techniques. Measurement of serum endocrine hormone alterations in
hens molted with feed withdrawal and alternative molting techniques. Examination of
the effect of endocrine hormone treatment and molting methods on immune cell
activity, as measured by cytokine and hormone molecular expression and expression of
cytokine and hormone receptor genes. Measurement of immune responses in S.
enteritidis infected hens molted with feed withdrawal and alternative molting
techniques.