Drugs and pesticide residues in broiler feed can compromise the therapeutic and production benefits of antibiotic(ANT)application and affect gene expression.In this study,we analyzed the expression of 13 key pancreatic genes and blood physiology parameters after administering one maximum residue limit of herbicide glyphosate(GLY),two ANTs,and one anticoccidial drug(AD).A total of 260 Ross 308 broilers aged 1-40 d were divided into the following four groups of 65 birds each:control group,which was fed the main diet(MD),and three experimental groups,which were fed MD supplemented with GLY,GLY+ANTs(enrofloxacin and colistin methanesulfonate),and GLY+AD(ammonium maduramicin),respectively.The results showed that the addition of GLY,GLY+ANTs,and GLY+AD caused significant changes in the expression of several genes of physiological and economic importance.In particular,genes related to inflammation and apoptosis(interleukin 6(IL6),prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2),and caspase 6(CASP6))were downregulated by up to 99.1%,and those related to antioxidant protection(catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1)and peroxiredoxin 6(PRDX6))by up to 98.6%,compared to controls.There was also a significant decline in the values of immunological characteristics in the blood serum observed in the experimental groups,and certain changes in gene expression were concordant with changes in the functioning of the pancreas and blood.The changes revealed in gene expression and blood indices in response to GLY,ANTs,and AD provide insights into the possible mechanisms of action of these agents at the molecular level.Specifically,these changes may be indicative of physiological mechanisms to overcome the negative effects of GLY,GLY+ANTs,and GLY+AD in broilers.

Studies have shown the presence of residual amounts of the herbicide glyphosate in poultry feed, which leads to its bioaccumulation in the body. Recently, it has been established that exposure to low levels of glyphosate over a long period may have serious negative effects on poultry health. Moreover, combined exposure to several toxicants can potentially lead to additive and/or synergistic effects. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in meat productivity and the expression dynamics of key genes (IGF1, IGF2, MYOG, MYOZ2, SLC2A1, SLC2A2, MSTN, MUC2, OCLN, CLDN1, TLR2, TLR4, CAT, SOD1, PRDX6, and HMOX1) in the cecum of broilers as affected by glyphosate, antibiotics and a coccidiostat (anticoccidial drug). Day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (n = 260) were divided into four groups, including a control group (CONT) fed the basic diet (BD), and three experimental groups: GLY (BD + glyphosate), GLY+ANT (BD + glyphosate and antibiotics enrofloxacin and colistin methanesulfonate), and GLY+CS (BD + glyphosate and the coccidiostat ammonium maduramycin). Samples were collected at control 7, 14, and 40 days of rearing, 50 mg each from three birds from each group. The mean body weight in each group was determined after the individual weighing of the entire flock. At 7 days of age, an upregulating effect on the expression of the immune-related TLR2 gene was detected in Groups GLY+ANT and GLY+CS compared to Group CONT (p = 0.044 and p = 0.042, respectively) and Group GLY (p = 0.049 and p = 0.044, respectively). At 40 days of age, this gene expression, conversely, decreased in Groups GLY+ANT and GLY+CS compared to Group CONT (p = 0.041 and p = 0.038, respectively). Glyphosate (Group GLY) upregulated the mRNA level of genes associated with productivity (IGF1, IGF2, and MSTN) at 7 days of age by 3.7 times (p = 0.041, p = 0.036 and p = 0.039, respectively) and, conversely, decreased it at a later age (14 and 40 days) compared to Group CONT (p = 0.024, p = 0.049 and p = 0.047, respectively, at 14 days, and p = 0.037 and p = 0.036 and p = 0.035, respectively, at 40 days of age). Thus, we identified detrimental changes in the expression of key broiler genes as influenced by glyphosate, as well as its combinations with antibiotics and a coccidiostat, which may have negative consequences for the poultry industry.

The article presents fresh biological dropping of caged chickens in crop production. After a thorough study of its environmental friendliness to the environment, this new biological dropping will reduce the cost of poultry farms for the disposal of dropping and use for more efficient cultivation of crops on marginal lands. The experiment used a high dose of organic matter - 120 t/ha, applied by spreading (control - without fertilisers). Sequencing of the metagenomes of soil samples showed that the soil microbiome’s phylogenetic composition was preserved due to the introduction of bacterial-fermented probiotic dropping. The authors also note that its taxonomic structure and functionality changed due to increased bacteria (with the different activity of taxa). Thus, the authors report an increase in the abundance of bacteria in the 1st sampling period from 6.9•107 to 1.3•108 copies/g of the soil of the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria in the plough horizon, and after 30 days - from 1.6•107 to 1.3×108 copies/g. For these purposes, opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms in the fertilised soil found in all soil samples were also studied. A higher proportion of enterobacteria was noted in the control sample (0.6%), and with dropping, it did not exceed 0.15%. The content of pathogenic bacteria on a fertilised background in the 1st period of soil sampling practically did not change (0.7–0.8%), but in the 2nd period, it decreased sharply (from 2.5 to 1.1%). However, the authors note a decrease in the content of pathogenic bacteria. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in their abundance (from 3.9•105 to 1.4•106 copies/g), mainly Pseudomonas sp bacteria (from 2.1•105 to 9.3•105 copies/g), which is a consequence of a general increase in the abundance of bacteria in the microbiome against the background of enrichment of the soil with organic matter and an increase in soil fertility. The authors did not reveal a significant negative microbiological effect after the action of fresh biological chicken dropping on the soil’s ecological state at the specified research stage.

Elements of fractal analysis are widely used in scientific research, including several biological disciplines. In this study, we hypothesized that chicken breed biodiversity manifests not only at the phenotypic level, but also at the genetic-system level in terms of different profiles of fractal conformity and bioconsolidation in the early myogenesis gene expression. To demonstrate this effect, we developed two mathematical models that describe the fractal nature of the expression of seven key genes in the embryonic breast and thigh muscles in eight breeds of meat, dual purpose, egg and game types. In the first model, we produced breed-specific coefficients of gene expression conformity in each muscle type using the slopes of regression dependencies, as well as an integral myogenesis gene expression index (MGEI). Additionally, breed fractal dimensions and integral myogenesis gene expression fractal dimension index (MGEFDI) were determined. The second gene expression model was based on plotting fractal portraits and calculating indices of fractal bioconsolidation. The bioconsolidation index of myogenesis gene expression correlated with the chick growth rate and nitric oxide (NO) oxidation rate. The proposed fractal models were instrumental in interpreting the genetic diversity of chickens at the level of gene expression for early myogenesis, NO metabolism and the postnatal growth of chicks.

Introduction: Due to long-term domestication, breeding and divergent selection, a vast genetic diversity in poultry currently exists, with various breeds being characterized by unique phenotypic and genetic features. Assuming that differences between chicken breeds divergently selected for economically and culturally important traits manifest as early as possible in development and growth stages, we aimed to explore breed-specific patterns and interrelations of embryo myogenesis, nitric oxide (NO) metabolism and post-hatch growth rate (GR). Methods: These characteristics were explored in eight breeds of different utility types (meat-type, dual purpose, egg-type, game, and fancy) by incubating 70 fertile eggs per breed. To screen the differential expression of seven key myogenesis associated genes (MSTN, GHR, MEF2C, MYOD1, MYOG, MYH1, and MYF5), quantitative real-time PCR was used. Results: We found that myogenesis associated genes expressed in the breast and thigh muscles in a coordinated manner showing breed specificity as a genetic diversity signature among the breeds studied. Notably, coordinated ("accord") expression patterns of MSTN, GHR, and MEFC2 were observed both in the breast and thigh muscles. Also, associated expression vectors were identified for MYOG and MYOD1 in the breast muscles and for MYOG and MYF5 genes in the thigh muscles. Indices of NO oxidation and post-hatch growth were generally concordant with utility types of breeds, with meat-types breeds demonstrating higher NO oxidation levels and greater GR values as compared to egg-type, dual purpose, game and fancy breeds. Discussion: The results of this study suggest that differences in early myogenesis, NO metabolism and post-hatch growth are breed-specific; they appropriately reflect genetic diversity and accurately capture the evolutionary history of divergently selected chicken breeds.

Relevance. There is increasing information that glyphosates can have a range of adverse effects on animal, bird and human health, raising serious concerns about global feed and animal and poultry product safety. Methods. The experiments were carried out in the vivarium of OOO “BIOTROF+” on broilers of the Ross 308 cross. The birds were divided into 3 groups: 1st (control), which received a diet without additives, 2nd (experimental), which received a diet with the addition of glyphosate, 3rd (experimental), which received a diet with the addition of glyphosate and a strain of the microorganism Bacillus sp. GL-8. Analysis of the gene expression of the caecum of the intestines of broilers was carried out using quantitative PCR with reverse transcription. To analyze mRNA expression, specific primers for antimicrobial peptide genes were selected. Amplification reactions were performed using “SsoAdvanced™ Universal SYBR® Green Supermix” (“Bio-Rad”). Results showed that the residual amounts of glyphosates which are present at sterns of broilers influence an expression of genes of antimicrobic peptides AvBD1, AvBD2, AvBD4, AvBD6, CATH-2, NK-lysin, strengthening it. For example, in experimental group 2, there was an increase in gene expression of defensins AvBD1, AvBD2, AvBD4, AvBD6 by 21.9, 29.9, 35.1 and 33.5 times, respectively, compared to control group 1 (Р ≤ 0,001). A decrease (31 to 41%) in LEAP-2 gene expression when feed is contaminated with glyphosates may likely lead to a decrease in resistance to bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica typhimurium, Streptococcus spp. and increased severity by the symptom of coccidiosis in poulty. The probiotic had a «leveling» effect on the expression of AvBD1, AvBD2, AvBD4 and AvBD6 defensin genes. This is likely due to the enhancement in the probiotic-modified gut microbiota of glyphosate metabolic opportunities, which may have acted as a physical barrier.

The study examines the search for alternative solutions to replace feed antibiotics for poultry farming. During the study of the probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium 1-35, its antimicrobial properties against some pathogenic microorganisms were established. Using a bioinformatics approach, genes for non-ribosomal peptide synthetases were discovered in the genome of Enterococcus faecium 1-35. A synthesis product of which is believed to have biological activity. Enterococcus faecium strain 1-35, capable of synthesizing active peptide products, can be regarded as an alternative solution when replacing feed antibiotics. The results obtained require additional studies of practical application to confirm the expected effect.

Although the herbicide glyphosate is widely used globally and considered safe, more evidence of its adverse effects on animals and humans is accumulating. The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the impact of different glyphosate concentrations on zootechnical characteristics and clinical, biochemical and immunological blood parameters in Ross 308 broiler chickens. Four groups were employed, including untreated control and three experimental groups fed diets enriched with glyphosate at doses of 10, 20 and 100 ppm that conformed to 0.5, 1 and 5 maximum residue limits, respectively. The results showed that glyphosate is a stress factor triggering a multifaceted effect on important blood parameters (e.g., white blood cell and phagocytic counts), which was shown for the first time in the experiments involving productive meat-type poultry. It was first revealed that glyphosate-induced changes in blood parameters may be related to a negative impact on the zootechnical characteristics including the digestive tract organ development and body weight gain. The study findings suggested that exposure to glyphosate in the feedstuffs can adversely affect the physiological condition and productivity of broilers.

Изучение влияния биоконсерванта на качество силоса из трудносилосуемых трав проводилось в условиях животноводческого хозяйства Вологодской области. Оценка качества кормов была произведена на основании лабораторных данных, полученных с помощью метода ближней инфракрасной спектроскопии в лаборатории глубокого анализа кормов. Были рассмотрены такие показатели, как кислотно-детергентный нерастворимый сырой протеин, нейтрально-детергентная клетчатка, кислотно-детергентная клетчатка и лигнин. Исследования показали, что доля силоса, имеющего уровень рН<4,2, составила 28,6%, от 4,2 до 4,4 — 71,4%. Наибольшие сохранность протеина и процент содержания растворимого протеина (85,06% от сырого протеина и 60,2% от сырого протеина соответственно) были получены в силосе из райграса. Достаточно высокое содержание сахара обнаружено в силосе из клевера и злаков — 8,86% от сухого вещества, в нем же было наибольшее содержание крахмала — 3,32% от сухого вещества. Наименьшим количеством лигнина характеризовался силос из райграса — 6,4% от сухого вещества. Только в этом корме показатель полной переваримости нейтрально-детергентной клетчатки был в норме. Применение биоконсерванта на основе живых молочнокислых бактерий обеспечило сохранность питательных веществ заготовленных кормов в течение всего периода хранения за счет быстрого снижения уровня рН, а также правильного процесса брожения массы и подавления роста нежелательной микрофлоры. Произведенная оценка позволила сделать выводы о рациональном использовании заготовленных силосов в кормлении сельскохозяйственных животных: силос с меньшим содержанием лигнина целесообразно использовать для дойного стада среднепродуктивных животных.

This article presents an analysis of the business process of developing yeast for silage, taking into account scientific justification, describes the stages of scientific development, responsible operators, required resources, test results of the resulting product, as well as the process of its registration. The process models have been successfully applied in practice and have shown their effectiveness. Research and analysis of the process of a new product development were carried out at the enterprise engaged in the development and production of animal feed additives BIOTROF LLC, St. Petersburg. Scientific and production experience in laying silage from perennial grasses (cereal-bean mixture) with the developed yeast was carried out on the basis of the Agricultural Production Cooperative Kobralovsky, Leningrad region. Graphical models of the process in eEPC notation were created using the ARIS tools, namely the ARIS Express. As a result of the analysis of business process models, the efficiency indicators of the designed process were calculated. For this process, all the resources of the company's scientific and technical base were involved - a molecular genetic laboratory and a production laboratory. The discussed business process model allows you to get a finished product in the shortest possible time, from the moment you realize the need to develop the required product till you obtain all the permits for its sale. Consideration of possible risks allows you to predict the course of events during the design. This model has been successfully applied in the development of a new product - yeast for silage, Biotrof®2+. Conducting scientific and production experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the new preparation. The use of Biotrof®2+ contributed to a faster acidification of the silage mass, prevented the destruction of protein (in the initial mass, the protein content was 14.5%, in the experiment – 13.4%, in the control – 12.5%). When feeding the prepared silage with a new yeast, the dairy productivity of cows increased (milk fat content increased by 2.5%, milk yield – by 8.6%). The dose of application of the preparation was determined – 1 liter per 30 tons of green mass.

The paper analyses the properties of Bacillus velezensis RT-26, a probiotic strain isolated from reindeer rumen, which has high activity towards fiber degradation, against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The analysis was performed using whole-genome sequencing of the strain using the Illumina platform. The study revealed that strain RT-26 possessed a complete set of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. 411 genes were involved in carbohydrate metabolism in the strain genome, 229 genes were related to vitamin and coenzyme metabolism, 149 genes were involved in fatty acid metabolism. The synthesis pathways of various amino acids, most B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, nicotiamide, vitamin B5) were identified in the genome. A complete pathway for synthesis of the dipeptide antibiotic bacilisin was detected in the strain. In addition, the strain is capable of synthesizing class A beta-lactamase. No genes responsible for the degradation of mycotoxins and xenobiotics were detected in the genome of the strain studied. A number of glycosyl hydrolase families were detected in the strain genome: GH 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 43, 46, 51, 53, 68, 68, 73, 101, 109, 126. Carbohydrate-binding proteins were of the SVM 50 family. Glycosyltransferases were of GT 1, 2, 4, 8, 26, 28, 30, 51, 83 families. In the genome of Bacillus velezensis strain RT-26, cellulases related to families GH 5, 6, 26, 51, chitinases related to families GH 18 and 23, and xylanases related to families GH 1, 3, 4, 16, 30, 43 were found. Thus, strain B. velezensis RT-26 has several phenotypically and genotypically proven properties that can characterize it as a good probiotic microorganism.

Despite the attention given in the recent years to the microbiological causes of endometritis and the potential sources of uterine microbiota infestation, more questions than answers remain in this research field. This paper describes an experiment carried out at the livestock farm of the Leningrad region on 6 dairy cows of the Holsteinized Russian Black Pied breed of the second lactation in the period after calving. The animals were divided into two groups (n = 3): Group 1 included clinically healthy animals, Group 2 included animals diagnosed with purulent-catarrhal post-calving endometritis. Metagenomic sequencing was performed using the MiSeq genomic sequencer (Illumina, Inc., USA) with the MiSeq Reagent Kit v3 (Illumina, Inc., USA). Based on the next-generation sequencing of microbiota of endometrial scrapings, 7 phyla of microorganisms were detected in clinically healthy cows and only 4 phyla of microorganisms in cows diagnosed with endometritis. The increase in the proportion of Fusobacteriota taxon bacteria permanently present in endometrial scrapings and the decrease in Bacteroidota phylum bacteria in the group of animals with endometritis could be related to the occurrence of this disease. Bacteria Alloprevotella, Campylobacter, Caviibacter, Falsiporphyromonas, Veillonella present only in the endometrial tissue of sick cows may be the etiological origin of endometritis. In the rumen of animals with endometritis, there was an increase in Bacteroidota phylum microorganisms (p≤0.05) against a decrease in Firmicutes phylum bacteria (p≤0.05) compared to the clinically healthy group. Using the PICRUSt2 software package (v.2.3.0), it was shown that the microbiome of cows diagnosed with endometritis showed inhibition (p≤0.05) of the potential of 9 metabolic pathways compared to healthy animals. This could have negative consequences for the body of animals and be a consequence of metabolic disorders.

The aim of the study was to study the expression of bacterial genes associated with the main metabolic enzymes in the rumen in relation to different physiological periods in dairy cows. The experiment was carried out in JSC “Agrofirm Dmitrova Gora” of the Tver region. The study of gene expression of the rumen microbiome was carried out on animals from five groups: group I—dry, II—fresh-calf, III—during the period of milk, IV—during the stabilization of lactation, V—during the decline of lactation. The results showed that the level of expression of the studied genes changed depending on the different physiological periods in dairy cows. For example, there was an increase in the expression level of genes PFK, PEPK, and cla-r of the rumen microbiome of cows in the new-calving period (group II) up to 2.6 times and the period of stabilization of lactation (group III) up to 3.3 times compared with dry animals (p ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, a reverse trend was observed in cows from groups III and IV (compared with animals of group I) (at p ≤ 0.05) in the level of expression of the scpA gene associated with the synthesis of methylmalonyl CoA mutase. Such changes in the level of gene expression may be associated with the influence of a combination of stress factors on the animal's body, such as calving, the onset of lactation, negative energy balance, adaptation to the modification of changing ratios of nutrient pools.

Background The key natural area of Russian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus, Nenets breed) is arctic zones, with severe climatic conditions and scarce feed resources, especially in the cold winter season. The adaptation of reindeer to these conditions is associated not only with the genetic potential of the animal itself. The rumen microbiome provides significant assistance in adapting animals to difficult conditions by participating in the fiber digestion. The aim of our study is to investigate the taxonomy and predicted metabolic pathways of the ruminal microbiota (RM) during the winter–spring (WS) and summer–autumn (SA) seasons, in calves and adult reindeer inhabiting the natural pastures of the Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous District of the Russian Federation. Methods The RM in reindeer was studied using the Next Generation Sequencing method with the MiSeq (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) platform. Reconstruction and prediction of functional profiles of the metagenome, gene families, and enzymes were performed using the software package PICRUSt2 (v.2.3.0). Results The nutritional value of WS and SA diets significantly differed. Crude fiber content in the WS diet was higher by 22.4% (p < 0.05), compared to SA, indicating possibly poorer digestibility and necessity of the adaptation of the RM to this seasonal change. A total of 22 bacterial superphyla and phyla were found in the rumen, superphylum Bacteroidota and phylum Firmicutes being the dominating taxa (up to 48.1% ± 4.30% and 46.1% ± 4.80%, respectively); while only two archaeal phyla presented as minor communities (no more then 0.54% ± 0.14% totally). The percentages of the dominating taxa were not affected by age or season. However, significant changes in certain minor communities were found, with seasonal changes being more significant than age-related ones. The percentage of phylum Actinobacteriota significantly increased (19.3-fold) in SA, compared to WS (p = 0.02) in adults, and the percentage of phylum Cyanobacteria increased up to seven-fold (p = 0.002) in adults and calves. Seasonal changes in RM can improve the ability of reindeer to withstand the seasons characterized by a low availability of nutrients. The PICRUSt2 results revealed 257 predicted metabolic pathways in RM: 41 pathways were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by season and/or age, including the processes of synthesis of vitamins, volatile fatty acids, and pigments; metabolism of protein, lipids, and energy; pathogenesis, methanogenesis, butanediol to pyruvate biosynthesis, cell wall biosynthesis, degradation of neurotransmitters, lactic acid fermentation, and biosynthesis of nucleic acids. A large part of these changeable pathways (13 of 41) was related to the synthesis of vitamin K homologues. Conclusion The results obtained improve our knowledge on the structure and possible metabolic pathways of the RM in reindeer, in relation to seasonal changes.

Avian genomes typically consist of ~10 pairs of macro- and ~30 pairs of microchromosomes. While inter-chromosomally, a pattern emerges of very little change (with notable exceptions) throughout evolution, intrachromosomal changes remain relatively poorly studied. To rectify this, here we use a pan-avian universally hybridising set of 74 chicken bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes on the macrochromosomes of eight bird species: common blackbird, Atlantic canary, Eurasian woodcock, helmeted guinea fowl, houbara bustard, mallard duck, and rock dove. A combination of molecular cytogenetic, bioinformatics, and mathematical analyses allowed the building of comparative cytogenetic maps, reconstruction of a putative Neognathae ancestor, and assessment of chromosome rearrangement patterns and phylogenetic relationships in the studied neognath lineages. We observe that, as with our previous studies, chicken appears to have the karyotype most similar to the ancestor; however, previous reports of an increased rate of intrachromosomal change in Passeriformes (songbirds) appear not to be the case in our dataset. The use of this universally hybridizing probe set is applicable not only for the re-tracing of avian karyotype evolution but, potentially, for reconstructing genome assemblies.

The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) is a unique animal inhabitant of arctic regions. Low ambient temperatures and scant diets (primarily, lichens) have resulted in different evolutional adaptations, including the composition of the ruminal microbiota. In the study presented here, the effects of seasonal and regional aspects of the composition of the ruminal microbiota in reindeer (Nenets breed, 38 animals) were studied (wooded tundra from the Yamalo-Nenetski Autonomous District (YNAD) vs. from the Nenetski Autonomous District (NAD)). The ruminal content of calves (n = 12) and adult animals (n = 26, 15 males and 11 females) was sampled in the summer (n = 16) and winter seasons (n = 22). The composition of the ruminal microbial population was determined by the V3–V4 16S rRNA gene region sequencing. It was found that the population was dominated by Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla, followed by Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia. An analysis of the community using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Bray–Curtis similarity metrics provided evidence that the most influential factors affecting the composition of ruminal microbiota are the region (p = 0.001) and season (p = 0.001); heat map analysis revealed several communities that are strongly affected by these two factors. In the summer season, the following communities were significantly larger compared to in the winter season: Coriobactriaceae, Erysipelothrihaceae, and Mycoplasmataceae. The following communities were significantly larger in the winter season compared to in summer: Paraprevotellaceae, Butyrivibrio spp., Succiniclasticum spp., Coprococcus spp., Ruminococcus spp., and Pseudobutyrivibrio spp. In NAD (tundra), the following communities were significantly larger in comparison to YNAD (wooded tundra): Verrucomicrobia (Verruco-5), Anaerolinaceae, PeHg47 Planctomycetes, cellulolytic Lachnospiraceae, and Succiniclasticum spp. The following bacterial groups were significantly larger in YNAD in comparison to NAD: cellulolytic Ruminococaceae, Dehalobacteriaceae, Veillionelaceae, and Oscilospira spp. The significant differences in the ruminal microbial population were primarily related to the ingredients of diets, affected by region and season. The summer-related increases in the communities of certain pathogens (Mycoplasmataceae, Fusobacterium spp., Porphyromonas endodentalis) were found. Regional differences were primarily related to the ratio of the species involved in ruminal cellulose degradation and ruminal fatty acids metabolism; these differences reflect the regional dissimilarities in botanical diet ingredients.

Reindeer digestion is impossible without the symbiotic microorganisms that live in its rumen. The composition of plant fibers present in the diet of reindeer is characterized by an increased content of plant fiber, hemicellulose, lignin, and secondary lichen metabolites. The Arctic is characterized by extremely scarce food resources even in summer. In winter the nutritional value of the diet is further reduced. The digestion of such feeds is provided only by the enzyme systems of microorganisms that live in the rumen of ruminants. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the changes occurring in the composition of the reindeer’ rumen bacterial community inhabiting the Nenets region of the Russian Arctic. Rumen contents were collected from 20 reindeer in winter and summer 2017. To identify the bacterial community, 16S rRNA sequencing was used on the MiSeq (Illumina). Statistical processing of the results of NGS using the PERMANOVA analysis showed that the rumen bacterial communities in winter and summer have significant differences (P = 0.001). Taxonomic analysis using the GreenGenes database showed that, in general, at the phylum level in the community, representatives of Firmicutes (29.98–52.67%) and Bacteroidetes (33.55–51.87%) dominated. Significant differences were shown for microorganisms associated with the fermentation of plant polysaccharides. In winter, a significant increase in bacteria of the genera Succiniclasticum (P < 0.001), Paraprevotellaceae (P < 0.001), Coprococcus (P < 0.001), Butyrivibrio (P < 0.001), Prevotella (P < 0.001), Ruminococcus (P < 0.001). Thus, there is a succession of the bacterial community of the reindeer rumen associated with the change of seasons, affecting minor groups of microorganisms. In turn, it is associated with the availability of various components of the diet and the predominance of more or less easily digestible substances in it. The study was supported by a grant of Russian Science Foundation Project No. 17-76-20026.

To adjust breeding programs for local, commercial, and fancy breeds, and to implement molecular (marker-assisted) breeding, a proper comprehension of phenotypic and genotypic variation is a sine qua non for breeding progress in animal production. Here, we investigated an evolutionary subdivision of domestic chickens based on their phenotypic and genotypic variability using a wide sample of 49 different breeds/populations. These represent a significant proportion of the global chicken gene pool and all major purposes of breed use (according to their traditional classification model), with many of them being characterized by a synthetic genetic structure and notable admixture. We assessed their phenotypic variability in terms of body weight, body measurements, and egg production. From this, we proposed a phenotypic clustering model (PCM) including six evolutionary lineages of breed formation: egg-type, meat-type, dual purpose (egg-meat and meat-egg), game, fancy, and Bantam. Estimation of genotypic variability was carried out using the analysis of five SNPs, i.e., at the level of genomic variation at the NCAPG-LCORL locus. Based on these data, two generally similar genotypic clustering models (GCM1 and GCM2) were inferred that also had several overlaps with PCM. Further research for SNPs associated with economically important traits can be instrumental in marker-assisted breeding programs.

The use of biological products that combine the advantages of different strains of microorganisms and beneficial bacterial metabolites to achieve a synergistic effect seems promising. The effect of such drugs may match the antibiotics, but without a negative effect on immunity and intestinal microbiota, accumulation in final products. Such advanced technologies can contribute to an increase in the productivity and duration of the economic use of poultry. In this study, we observed the effect of Bacillus megaterium and Enterococcus faecium bacterial strains combined introduction on the intestinal microbiota and genes of immunity and nutrients transport expression in laying hens. An increase in the content of the Bacillaceae family by an average of 36% and of the Veillonellaceae family by an average of 60% while applying bacterial strains has been noted. The reduction of pathogenic bacterial species including Enterobacteriaceae (1.25 times), Peptococcaceae (4 times), Mycoplasmataceae (5.5 times), Pasteurellaceae (1.1 times) also been marked. The addition of bacterial strains changed the differential expression of a range of genes. The expression of IL6 genes increased 2.2 times, IL8 5.3 times, AvBD9 increased 10.1 times, AvBD10 5.8 times, IRF7 7.3 times in experimental group compared with the control group. The expression of PTGS2 decreased in the experimental group to 0.68 compared to the control group. The expression of SLC5A1 increased by 2.8 times, Ca2 gene increased 1.9 times, CaBP-D28k also increased 1.6 times in the experimental group.

The use of biological products based on beneficial microorganisms that produce siderophores, which reduce the concentration of available to pathogensiron ions, can be successfully used in agriculture.The aim of our study was the sequencingand functional annotation of the genome of Bacillus subtilis strain from the collection of BIOTROFLtd to identify genes associated with the synthesis of siderophores.Nucleotide sequences were analyzed using a MiSeq instrument (Illumina, Inc., USA) together with a MiSeq Reagent Kit v3 (300-cycle) (Illumina, Inc., USA).Functional genome annotation was carried out using the PROKKA 1.12 (https://github.com/kbaseapps/ProkkaAnnotationhttp://vicbioinformatics.com/) and RAST 2.0 (https://rast.nmpdr.org)programs.The KEGG Pathway database was used to assess the pool of genes associated with antimicrobial activity and construct a metabolic map (http://www.genome.jp/kegg/).When carrying out bioinformatic processing of whole genome sequencing data of the B. subtilis strain, several gene clusters associated with the synthesis of siderophores were identified.Аlmost all genes necessary for the implementation of the process of iron binding with the participation of bacillibactin were found.A cluster of DhbA, DhbB, DhbC genes associated with the production of enzymes 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.28),isochorismatase (EC 3.3.2.1) and isochorismates synthase (EC 5.4.4.2), which are responsible for synthesis of bacillibactin precursor was found.The cluster of genes FeuA, FeuB, FeuC, and FeuD is associated with the synthesis of substrate-binding proteins of the iron transport system.In the genome of B. subtilis, genes associated with the synthesis of other siderophores were also found -enterochelin, described for E. coli and Campylobacter coli, alsomyxochelin A, first found in Angiococcusdisciformis.It is likely that B. subtilis bacteria can synthesize several synergistic siderophores to increase their competitiveness.In our opinion, there is a potential for using the B. subtilis strain in animal husbandry and plant growing as a basis for bacterial biopreparations -producers of siderophores, in order to reduce the pathogenic load.