Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41604325›Full record

ArticleJournal of animal science2026

Harnessing apidaecin capability to improve intestinal health and inhibit Salmonella Typhimurium transmission in laying hens.

Hui Ma, Fei Gong, Yanrui Yue, Fuheng Xu, Xiaoxuan He, Jinrong Feng, Huping Xue, Jia Feng, Yuna Min

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of animal science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hui MaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Fei GongCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Yanrui YueCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Fuheng XuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Xiaoxuan HeCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Jinrong FengCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Huping XueCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7808-7164
Jia FengCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
Yuna MinCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.

Funding

China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA CARS-40-S20National Natural Science Foundation of China 32302776
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Apidaecin (Api), an antimicrobial peptide, exhibits in vitro efficacy against Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and enhances broiler growth performance via modulation of intestinal barrier function. This study evaluated the effects of dietary apidaecin on intestinal health in laying hens and its potential to mitigate S. Typhimurium infection and egg contamination. A total of 288 Hy-Line grey layers (45-wk-old) were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (6 replicates per treatment, 12 birds per replicate). Basal diet supplemented with 0 (Con), 300 (Api300), 500 (Api500), or 700 (Api700) mg/kg apidaecin for 12 wk. Based on intestinal barrier function assessment, 18 hens each from the Con and Api 500 groups were selected for S. Typhimurium challenge. Apidaecin's inhibitory effects on S. Typhimurium adhesion and invasion were further assessed using an in vitro intestinal epithelial cell model. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Duncan's post-hoc test for multi-group comparisons and independent t-tests for 2-group comparisons. Results indicated that daily feed intake, crypt depth and villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) of intestinal tract showed a quadratic response (P < 0.05) to increasing levels of apidaecin supplementation. Apidaecin (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced feed intake (1.76%), jejunal (29.04%), and ileal crypt depth (31.04%), while increasing duodenal (24.41%), jejunal (45.15%), and ileal V/C (36.39%) vs. control (P < 0.05). Apidaecin significantly increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of beneficial short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (e.g. Phascolarctobacterium and Desulfovibrio), while reducing (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of enteritis-associated pathogens (e.g. Actinobacillus) of cecum. These beneficial effects were maximized at the 500 mg/kg diet level. Post-challenge, Api 500 hens exhibited increased (P < 0.05) jejunal and ileal V/C ratios and ileal secretory IgA expression compared to controls. Furthermore, apidaecin supplementation significantly reduced (P < 0.05) S. Typhimurium loads in the ileum, spleen, liver and on eggshells. In vitro assays confirmed apidaecin's direct inhibition (P < 0.05) of S. Typhimurium adhesion to and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. Collectively, these findings support the potential of dietary apidaecin supplementation in poultry feed formulations to enhance intestinal health and improve the food safety of egg products by reducing Salmonella contamination.

Indexed as

Antimicrobial Cationic PeptidesChickensIntestinesPoultry DiseasesSalmonella Infections, AnimalSalmonella typhimuriumAnimal FeedAnimalsDietDietary SupplementsDose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleRandom AllocationAntimicrobial Cationic Peptidesapidaecinfood safetyintestinal healthlaying henSalmonella

Identifiers

PMID41604325
PMCPMC12989107

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.