Impact of gut microbial diversity on egg production performance in chickens

作者：Liping Wu, Tao Zhang, Zhihua Luo, Huiyuan Xiao, Di Wang, Chunxiang Wu, Xinyan Fang, Jiawei Li, Jing Zhou, Junjie Miao, Hongli Tan, Yanan Wang, Qing Liu, Jianhua Huang · 发表于：Microbiology Spectrum · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1128/spectrum.01927-24 · 被引用次数：10 · 研究领域：Gut microbiota and health、Animal Nutrition and Physiology、Probiotics and Fermented Foods

ABSTRACT Chickens are one of the most economically important poultry species, and their egg-laying performance is a crucial economic trait. The intestinal microbiome plays a significant role in the egg-laying performance. To clarify the diversity of chicken intestinal microbiota and its connection to egg-laying performance, this study utilized 16S rRNA sequencing technology to characterize the intestinal microbiomes of 101 chickens from 13 breeds with varying levels of egg production. The results reveal significant differences in gut microbiota structure among chicken groups with varying egg production levels. High egg-producing chickens showed significantly higher abundances of Firmicutes , Proteobacteria , and Lactobacillus , while low egg-producing chickens displayed greater microbial α-diversity and more complex community structures. These differences in gut microbiota influence key physiological functions, including nutrient absorption and hormone regulation through metabolic pathways, and directly affect egg production performance. The low and medium production groups partially overlapped on the principal coordinates analysis plot, whereas the high-production group was distinctly separate. This study provides a scientific basis and intestinal microbiome data for selecting probiotics related to high egg production in chickens. IMPORTANCE This study elucidates the critical role of gut microbiota in the egg-laying performance of chickens, a key economic indicator in the po...