The role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the regulation of innate immunity in the domestic chicken.

我们的研究重点是培育在面对传染病时具有内在抗性或弹性的鸟类，以减少家禽生产对抗生素和其他治疗的依赖。增强抵抗力或恢复力也可以改善鸡在面对环境病原体挑战时的福利。我们正在研究一种叫做白细胞介素-10 （IL-10）的循环激素样分子，这种分子在禽类感染艾美耳虫寄生虫时大量产生，艾美耳虫是肉鸡和蛋鸡生产中损失和痛苦的主要原因。我们的假设是，产生的IL-10水平是受遗传控制的，这种蛋白质抑制免疫系统，因此鸟类也容易受到其他病原体的影响，包括弯曲杆菌和梭状芽胞杆菌，它们也可能传播给人类。为了验证我们的假设，我们将用寄生虫挑战肉鸡和蛋鸡，并测量循环中IL-10的水平，看看它们是否与肠道疾病的严重程度以及对鸟类生长和生产力的影响相关。在这些挑战研究中，我们将剖析鸟类的遗传与它们产生的IL-10水平之间的关系。我们还将确定由寄生虫引起的疾病的严重程度是否由IL-10直接控制，通过故意降低IL-10的水平，或者使用阻止其作用的抗体，或者使用消除其产生的基因操作。

Our research is focused on breeding birds that are intrinsically resistant or resilient in the face of infectious disease, to reduce the dependence upon antibiotics and other treatments in poultry production. Enhanced resistance or resilience can also improve chicken welfare in the face of environmental pathogen challenge. We are studying a circulating hormone-like molecule, called interleukin-10 (IL-10) that is produced in large amounts when a bird is infected with a parasite, Eimeria, which is a major cause of loss and suffering in both broiler and layer poultry production. Our hypothesis is that the level of IL-10 produced is under genetic control, and that this protein suppresses the immune system so that birds become susceptible to other pathogens as well, including Campylobacter and Clostridia that are also potentially transmitted to humans. To address our hypothesis, we will challenge broiler and layer birds with the parasites, and measure levels of IL-10 in the circulation, see whether they are correlated with the severity of the disease in the intestine and the impact on the growth and productivity of the birds. In these challenge studies, we will dissect the relationship between the genetics of the bird and the level of IL-10 they produce. We will also determine whether the severity of the disease caused by parasites is controlled directly by IL-10 by deliberately reducing the level, either using an antibody that blocks its actions, or genetic manipulations that abolish the production.