In ovo feeding of probiotic lactobacilli differentially alters expression of genes involved in the development and immunological maturation of bursa of Fabricius in pre-hatched chicks

Abstract excerpt

Compelling evidence indicates that immunological maturation of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues, including the bursa of Fabricius, is dependent upon antigenic stimulation post-hatch. In view of these data, the present study investigated the impact of exposing the immune system of chick embryos to antigenic stimuli, via in ovo delivery of poultry-specific lactobacilli, on the expression of genes associated with...