Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsMeat/Poultry

Roslin Institute Discovers Genes in Chickens that Could Offer Resistance to Campylobacter

chickens
June 24, 2021

BMC Genomics has published a study from the Roslin Institute, part of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, which identified genes in chickens that could offer resistance to harmful bacteria commonly found in poultry. This could also inform ways to limit the risk of associated food poisoning in people. 

According to the Roslin Institute, the research identified a large number of genes in chicken intestines that may determine whether the birds are resistant to Campylobacter.

Campylobacter causes approximately 1.5 million illnesses each year in the U.S. People can become infected with it by eating raw or undercooked poultry or eating something that touched it. They can also get it by eating other foods, including seafood, meat, and produce; by contact with animals; and by drinking untreated water. Although people infected with Campylobacter usually recover on their own, some need antibiotic treatment.

Campylobacter jejuni, specifically, is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans and the handling or consumption of contaminated poultry meat is a key source of infection. 

Roslin Institute researchers studied the global transcriptional response of inbred chicken lines that differ in resistance to C. jejuni colonization at a key site of bacterial persistence. The results from this study could inform research towards breeding chickens that are less likely to carry Campylobacter bacteria and therefore limit the risk to poultry customers. 

Mark Stevens, Ph.D., personal chair of microbial pathogenesis at the Roslin Institute, said that Campylobacter is present in more than half of chickens sold, which represents a significant risk to consumers, and breeding poultry resistant to the bacteria is one potential way to tackle this. He also said their research is shedding light on how the genetic makeup of chickens influences their response to the bacteria, which could inform ways to breed poultry resistant to Campylobacter and thereby improve food safety.

The researchers tested the effects of Campylobacter infection on chickens that were bred to be resistant or susceptible to the bacteria. Analysis of gut tissue showed differences in activity of a large number of genes, including some involved in immunity, such as the major histocompatibility complex, and antimicrobial peptides. The variation between these genes in susceptible and resistant chickens might possibly explain their response to Campylobacter.

KEYWORDS: Campylobacter study

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Contamination Control
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Training
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Management
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

recalled sysco and lyons imperial nutritional shakes

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Nutritional Shakes Served at Healthcare Facilities Causes 14 Deaths

Image of fish on ice

Common Fish Food Poisoning Types and Prevention Methods

Scientist inspecting food substance with microscope

FDA Announces ‘Proactive’ Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe

Events

June 12, 2025

Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility

Live: June 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn how ingredient bans will impact product development, labeling, and sourcing.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • young broilers eating feed in cage commercial farm

    Canadian Chicken Study Finds Resistance to Important Antibiotics in Salmonella, Campylobacter

    See More
  • clear fresh water splashing

    Scientist Discovers PFAS-Eating Microbes That Could Clean Contaminated Drinking Water

    See More
  • free range chickens eating from bucket

    Researchers Achieve 80 Percent Reduction in Campylobacter in Chickens by Adding Biochar to Feed

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119237963.jpg

    Food Safety in China: Science, Technology, Management and Regulation

  • 9781138070912.jpg

    Trends in Food Safety and Protection

  • food-safety-making.jpg

    Food Safety: Making Foods Safe and Free From Pathogens

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Westlake Epoxy Inc., a Westlake Co.

    Westlake Epoxy is a global manufacturer and supplier of epoxy resin systems. From lighter weight and durable, mass-producible composite parts to components that are protecting from fire, smoke and toxicity to low-VOC coatings that offer superior appearance, Westlake Epoxy resin systems, backed by our decades of formulation expertise, can enable innovation and provide state-of-the art performance characteristics of strength, heat-, corrosion- and chemical resistance, in addition to superior adhesion in a wide variety of applications from coatings, composites and building materials to adhesives. Westlake Epoxy’s brands include EPON™ and EPIKOTE™ epoxy resins, EPI-REZ™ waterborne resins and EPIKURE™ curing agents.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing