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New research seeks to eliminate Campylobacter in poultry
Story Date: 2/23/2012
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Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 2/22/12
New research by scientists at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute in Scotland seeks to find the source of some Campylobacter in chickens. The $2 million research project will map genes responsible for resistance to the bug with the view to being able to breed Campylobacter-resistant chickens in the future.
Chickens are able to tolerate large amounts of Campylobacter in their guts without harm, allowing the bacteria to thrive. However, some breeds of chicken are able to naturally resist the bacteria’s colonization – reducing the chances of it entering the food chain.
The researchers will spend the next three years mapping the genes and gene mutations responsible for increased resistance to colonisation of Campylobacter in chicken guts.
“We already know from our previous work with non-commercial birds that some chickens are able to reduce the levels of bacterium in their guts,” said Professor Peter Kaiser, who will lead the study. “We have already identified four regions of the genome that contribute to this resistance. This new research program should allow us to locate the actual genes responsible for this increased resistance.”
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