How do chicken macrophages react towards encountering E.coil

What is it about?

The article describes how chicken macrophages , important cells of the immune system, react towards Escherichia coli. Avian-specific strains of this bacterium (called APEC) are a major pathogen for chickens and cause huge economic loss in the chicken industry. A possible explanation for the high infectivity of APEC could be that it can evade or dampen the immune response. We show in this manuscript that at least chicken macrophages produce a normal immune response when they encounter APEC. They take up the bacterium which we neatly show by using fluorescent E.coli and confocal microscopy and the macrophages respond by producing the usual signaling molecules seen for other bacteria. As yet, it is unclear whether APEC can affect the immune response of other cells or that other factors can explain why specifically APEC can so easily infect chickens.

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Why is it important?

E.coli infection of chicken causes high mortality (often in co-infection with infectious Bronchitis virus) and thereby also high economic losses. IUnderstanding specifically APEC is so infectious is a key step towards finding effective treatment or prevention methods. this will also lower the use of antibiotics and thereby reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.