Influenza a virus subtype H9N2 infection induces respiratory microbiota dysbiosis in chickens via type-I interferon-mediated mechanisms

作者：Samson Oladokun, Mohammadali Alizadeh, Amirul Islam Mallick, Fatemeh Fazel, Janan Shoja Doost, Katherine Blake, Myles St Denis, Sugandha Raj, Shayan Sharif · 发表于：FEMS Microbes · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1093/femsmc/xtaf001 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Plant Virus Research Studies、Viral Infections and Vectors、Respiratory viral infections research

Abstract Avian influenza virus (AIV) poses significant threats to poultry and human health. This study investigates the impact of H9N2 AIV infection on the respiratory microbiota of chickens using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Total 48 one-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens were assigned to six groups: a control and five post-infection groups (days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9). After a 15-day microbiota stabilization period, the infected chickens received a viral inoculum (107 TCID50/ml) via ocular, intra-nasal, and intra-tracheal routes. Tracheal and broncho-alveolar lavage samples were analyzed. Significant reductions in microbiota diversity were observed on days 5, 7, and 9 post-infection, compared to d0 controls. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance confirmed significant beta diversity differences (P = 0.001) between infected and uninfected groups. The microbial shifts from d5 to d9 were marked by increased Proteobacteria, decreased Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, and a rise in Dickeya. Elevated type-I interferon (IFN-β) and viperin gene expression at d5 coincided with reduced microbiota diversity, highlighting the respiratory microbiota’s role in modulating host responses to AIV H9N2 infection and suggesting potential biomarkers for respiratory dysbiosis.