Control of Campylobacter jejuni in chickens by vaccination

空肠弯曲杆菌是一种主要的食源性致病菌。2004年，加拿大报告了9000例人类弯曲杆菌病病例，而同年沙门氏菌病病例为5000例。据估计，在美国，人类弯曲杆菌病每年造成的损失超过80亿美元。在大多数情况下，禽类产品是感染源，因为鸡感染了弯曲杆菌，可以在没有任何临床症状的情况下释放这种微生物。因此，为了降低这种微生物的风险，降低家禽产品中弯曲杆菌的负担至关重要。在这里，我们建议进行一系列研究，以评估天然免疫兴奋剂减轻鸡弯曲菌负担的能力。我们还打算利用上述免疫刺激剂开发新的疫苗配方，以保护鸡只免受弯曲杆菌的侵袭。最后，我们将调查疫苗和益生菌之间可能的协同作用，以改善对这种细菌的控制。我们的研究结果最终将为控制弯曲杆菌及其传播给人类提供一种手段。

Campylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne pathogen. In 2004, there were 9,000 reported cases of human camplylobacteriosis in Canada, compared to 5,000 cases of salmonellosis during the same year. According to some estimates, the annual cost of human campylobacteriosis in the US is over 8 billion dollars. Poultry products are the source of infection in most cases, because chickens become infected with Campylobacter and can shed this microbe without showing any clinical signs. Therefore, to reduce the risk of this microbe, it is critically important to reduce the Campylobacter burden in poultry products. Here, we propose to undertake a series of studies to evaluate the ability of natural immune stimulants to reduce burden of Campylobacter in chickens. We also intend to develop novel vaccine formulation using the above immune stimulants to confer protection against Campyobacter in chickens. Finally, we will investigate the possible synergism between vaccines and probiotics for improved control of this bacterium. The results of our studies will ultimately provide a means for control of Campylobacter and its transmission to humans.