Mucus-Pathogen Interactions in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Farmed Animals

Gastrointestinal infections cause significant challenges and economic losses in animal husbandry. As pathogens becoming resistant to antibiotics are a growing concern worldwide, alternative strategies to treat infections in farmed animals are necessary in order to decrease the risk to human health a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microorganisms (Basel) 2018-06, Vol.6 (2), p.55
Main Authors: Quintana-Hayashi, Macarena P, Padra, Médea, Padra, János Tamás, Benktander, John, Lindén, Sara K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal health
Animal husbandry
Animals
Antibiotics
Antigens
Antimicrobial agents
Aquaculture
bacteria
Carbohydrates
Cattle
Colonization
Disease
E coli
Economic impact
farm animal
Feeds
Fish
Food
Gastrointestinal system
Gastrointestinal tract
Glycoproteins
host-pathogen interaction
Host-pathogen interactions
Infections
intestine
Livestock
Microbiology
Mikrobiologi
Molecular weight
Mucin
Mucins
Mucosa
Mucus
Nematodes
O-glycosylation
parasite
Pathogens
Poultry
Proteins
Review
stomach
Zebrafish
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Summary:Gastrointestinal infections cause significant challenges and economic losses in animal husbandry. As pathogens becoming resistant to antibiotics are a growing concern worldwide, alternative strategies to treat infections in farmed animals are necessary in order to decrease the risk to human health and increase animal health and productivity. Mucosal surfaces are the most common route used by pathogens to enter the body. The mucosal surface that lines the gastrointestinal tract is covered by a continuously secreted mucus layer that protects the epithelial surface. The mucus layer is the first barrier the pathogen must overcome for successful colonization, and is mainly composed of densely glycosylated proteins called mucins. The vast array of carbohydrate structures present on the mucins provide an important setting for host-pathogen interactions. This review summarizes the current knowledge on gastrointestinal mucins and their role during infections in farmed animals. We examine the interactions between mucins and animal pathogens, with a focus on how pathogenic bacteria can modify the mucin environment in the gut, and how this in turn affects pathogen adhesion and growth. Finally, we discuss analytical challenges and complexities of the mucus-based defense, as well as its potential to control infections in farmed animals.
ISSN:2076-2607
2076-2607
DOI:10.3390/microorganisms6020055