Immunomodulation and Intestinal Health in Poultry

The gut of poultry is both a primary site of nutrient absorption and a crucial barrier against pathogens. Intestinal health depends on the structural integrity of the mucosal barrier, the balanced composition of the microbiota and the appropriate modulation of the immune system. Immunomodulation refers to the deliberate adjustment of immune responses to maintain homeostasis and optimise performance. In poultry, strategic interventions—ranging from phytogenic compounds and probiotics to medium-chain fatty acids—aim to enhance barrier function by upregulating tight junction proteins and mucous production, while attenuating excessive inflammation. Beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bacteroides generate metabolites, notably short-chain fatty acids, that nourish enterocytes and regulate regulatory T-cell activity. Conversely, overactivation of pathways such as lipopolysaccharide-triggered NF-κB or COX-2-mediated prostaglandin release can impair growth and intestinal integrity. Advances in omics technologies have enabled the integration of microbiome profiling with host transcriptomics and metabolomics, revealing mechanistic links between dietary agents, microbial consortia and host immunity. Such insights inform the development of antibiotic alternatives, with global implications for food safety, animal welfare and sustainable poultry production.

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Immunomodulation and Intestinal Health in Poultry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in immunomodulation and intestinal health in poultry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Immunomodulation: The deliberate regulation of immune responses to achieve a desired balance between defence and tolerance.

Tight junction proteins: Transmembrane and scaffold proteins (e.g. claudins, occludin, zonula occludens) that seal the paracellular space between epithelial cells.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Microbial fermentation products (acetate, propionate, butyrate) that serve as energy sources and signalling molecules in the gut.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): A component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that triggers innate immune responses via Toll-like receptor 4.

Microbiota: The community of microorganisms inhabiting the gut, which influences nutrient metabolism and immune function.

References

1. Dietary Epimedium extract supplementation improves intestinal functions and alters gut microbiota in broilers. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology (2023).
2. Lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stress negatively regulates broiler chicken growth via the COX-2-PGE2-EP4 signaling pathway. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
3. Integrating Serum Metabolome and Gut Microbiome to Evaluate the Benefits of Lauric Acid on Lipopolysaccharide- Challenged Broilers. Frontiers in Immunology (2021).