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Implications of peptidoglycans for gastrointestinal functionality
Effective functionality of the gastrointestinal tract and its health are important factors in determining animal performance. There are relationships between diet, the gut barrier, gut microbiota, digestion and absorption, as well as with immunity. Excessive bacterial cell wall fragments, mainly peptidoglycans (PGNs), may impair gastrointestinal functionality and reduce performance.
BY ALFONS JANSMAN, WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY B 38
acterial cell walls mainly consist of peptidoglycans (PGNs) which are mesh-like in structure. Naturally, during bacterial turnover, a large quantity of PGNs fragments are released into the gut. Most of the
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 5/6, 2021
PGNs are recycled for cell wall biosynthesis but they can also accumulate in the intestinal lumen, impacting gut functionality. PGNs are recognized by specific receptors located in the basolateral surface of epithelial cells, inducing inflammatory and immune responses.
Challenges to gut health As the gut and microbiome are developing, poultry face a range of challenges from the diet and the environment. Those which cause significant damage to the intestinal lu- men include: coccidia, helminths, mycotoxins and patho- genic bacteria. During the life of the birds both the intesti- nal microbiome and the bird’s immune system are developing in an interactive way. While commensal bacteria do not cause disease, fragments from their cell walls con- tribute to waste in the gut. The resulting PGNs form a
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