Understanding resistance and differential vaccine responses to Eimeria in the chicken - novel biomarkers and genetic control.
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Veterinary College
Department Name: Pathology and Pathogen Biology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Our overarching hypothesis is that QTL controlling resistance to Eimeria are segregating in modern commercial chickens, and that some of these will be in common with those controlling differential vaccine responses. Further, we hypothesise that the sequence variations may allow us to explain the molecular basis of differential resistance and differential vaccine responsiveness. Finally, we hypothesise that innate immune responses and early adaptive immune responses, such as Th17 responses, play a role in driving differential resistance.
We will also perform whole genome association/genomic selection (WGA/GS) for Eimeria resistance in commercial lines and then independently validate the WGA/GS results. We will also determine Eimeria resistance QTL in inbred lines, identify candidate genes and nucleotide changes and analyse the functional consequences of this sequence variation. This dual approach is required as we cannot apply a simple candidate SNP polymorphism approach in the commercial lines, based on the inbred line data, as we have no evidence that there is the same underlying linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the causal mutation and the SNP in the commercial lines. We will then determine QTLs for differential vaccine responsiveness in the inbred lines and determine if these are in common with the QTLs identified for resistance.
The overall aim is to identify markers (SNPs), candidate genes and ultimately causative mutations for resistance/susceptibility to infection with Eimeria in chickens. The resistance-associated genotypes will inform commercial breeding programmes to reduce the incidence of Eimeria infection of poultry but also improve vaccine responses in the same birds. Greater understaning of immune responses to Eimeria infection has the potential to identify novel biomarkers associated with resistance.
We will also perform whole genome association/genomic selection (WGA/GS) for Eimeria resistance in commercial lines and then independently validate the WGA/GS results. We will also determine Eimeria resistance QTL in inbred lines, identify candidate genes and nucleotide changes and analyse the functional consequences of this sequence variation. This dual approach is required as we cannot apply a simple candidate SNP polymorphism approach in the commercial lines, based on the inbred line data, as we have no evidence that there is the same underlying linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the causal mutation and the SNP in the commercial lines. We will then determine QTLs for differential vaccine responsiveness in the inbred lines and determine if these are in common with the QTLs identified for resistance.
The overall aim is to identify markers (SNPs), candidate genes and ultimately causative mutations for resistance/susceptibility to infection with Eimeria in chickens. The resistance-associated genotypes will inform commercial breeding programmes to reduce the incidence of Eimeria infection of poultry but also improve vaccine responses in the same birds. Greater understaning of immune responses to Eimeria infection has the potential to identify novel biomarkers associated with resistance.
Planned Impact
The work proposed has direct relevance to the three ARC aims and three of the four prioritised themes within the overarching objective of 'improving farmed animal resistance to pest and disease organisms'. Outputs will include the identification of regions of the chicken genome associated with resistance/susceptibility to infection by one or more Eimeria species parasites and the ability to raise cross-protective immune responses, supplemented by characterisation of specific immune mechanisms underlying these traits to yield a panel of informative biomarkers. Outcomes will assist in increasing UK competitiveness in the global animal production market, improving animal welfare and helping to guarantee a secure supply of safe, healthy food. The following stakeholders have been identified as beneficiaries of this work:
1. The UK poultry production industry
Eimeria parasites cost the UK poultry industry in excess of £800M per annum including disease-induced losses and the cost of control. Addressing the theme 'Understanding the basis of resistance/resilience to pests and diseases in farmed animal species', identification of genomic regions associated with resistance to eimerian disease will facilitate selection for inherently resistant poultry with no loss of productivity. The structure of the UK poultry industry is such that collaboration with the major breeding companies will provide a cascade of breeding developments, 'ensuring exchange of knowledge between the science base and industry through effective networking'.
2. The UK poultry breeding industry
Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to Eimeria and immune responses correlated with relevant immuno-competence will provide a panel of genetic and phenotypic biomarkers which may be developed as accurate, affordable tools to estimate disease susceptibility and inform breeding strategy ('Developing novel tools for defining disease biomarkers and phenotypes to inform breeding strategies for subclinical infections and increased disease resistance').
3. The UK animal health industry
The UK currently leads the world in the production of live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines, although a major cost is the requirement for two strains of Eimeria maxima. The identification of genetic markers or genes associated with the ability to generate cross-strain immune responses is likely to support selection of chicken genotypes receptive to streamlined live parasite vaccines and impact on the future development of vectored sub-unit vaccines ('Understanding variation in vaccine responsiveness, immuno-competence at different developmental stages and disease outcomes').
4. Animal welfare
The effective reduction of disease as a result of improved breeding supports the Five Freedoms implicit to animal welfare as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
5. General public and the environment
Increased efficiency in poultry production will raise poultry product availability at a lower cost for the consumer, contributing to improved food security. Consequences of improved disease resistance include a reduction in the requirement for prophylactic chemotherapy, reducing drug consumption and the risk of contamination to the food chain and the environment.
6. Skills, knowledge and training
The multidisciplinary nature of this project will provide opportunities for broad training to all staff, in addition to other members and students of each host institution ('strengthen the research community in the areas of disease and pest resistance of farmed animals through interdisciplinary research and the provision of training').
7. International development
Eimerian parasites impose serious costs on animal production in developing counties. Translating 'high quality, innovative, strategic research within UK universities and institutes to improve the resistance of farmed animals to pest and disease organisms' can improve economic income and alleviate poverty.
1. The UK poultry production industry
Eimeria parasites cost the UK poultry industry in excess of £800M per annum including disease-induced losses and the cost of control. Addressing the theme 'Understanding the basis of resistance/resilience to pests and diseases in farmed animal species', identification of genomic regions associated with resistance to eimerian disease will facilitate selection for inherently resistant poultry with no loss of productivity. The structure of the UK poultry industry is such that collaboration with the major breeding companies will provide a cascade of breeding developments, 'ensuring exchange of knowledge between the science base and industry through effective networking'.
2. The UK poultry breeding industry
Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to Eimeria and immune responses correlated with relevant immuno-competence will provide a panel of genetic and phenotypic biomarkers which may be developed as accurate, affordable tools to estimate disease susceptibility and inform breeding strategy ('Developing novel tools for defining disease biomarkers and phenotypes to inform breeding strategies for subclinical infections and increased disease resistance').
3. The UK animal health industry
The UK currently leads the world in the production of live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines, although a major cost is the requirement for two strains of Eimeria maxima. The identification of genetic markers or genes associated with the ability to generate cross-strain immune responses is likely to support selection of chicken genotypes receptive to streamlined live parasite vaccines and impact on the future development of vectored sub-unit vaccines ('Understanding variation in vaccine responsiveness, immuno-competence at different developmental stages and disease outcomes').
4. Animal welfare
The effective reduction of disease as a result of improved breeding supports the Five Freedoms implicit to animal welfare as set out by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
5. General public and the environment
Increased efficiency in poultry production will raise poultry product availability at a lower cost for the consumer, contributing to improved food security. Consequences of improved disease resistance include a reduction in the requirement for prophylactic chemotherapy, reducing drug consumption and the risk of contamination to the food chain and the environment.
6. Skills, knowledge and training
The multidisciplinary nature of this project will provide opportunities for broad training to all staff, in addition to other members and students of each host institution ('strengthen the research community in the areas of disease and pest resistance of farmed animals through interdisciplinary research and the provision of training').
7. International development
Eimerian parasites impose serious costs on animal production in developing counties. Translating 'high quality, innovative, strategic research within UK universities and institutes to improve the resistance of farmed animals to pest and disease organisms' can improve economic income and alleviate poverty.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Damer Blake (Principal Investigator) | |
Fiona Tomley (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Nolan MJ
(2015)
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for Eimeria tenella replication--Implications for experimental refinement and animal welfare.
in Parasitology international
Blake DP
(2017)
Recombinant anticoccidial vaccines - a cup half full?
in Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases
Macdonald SE
(2019)
Impact of Eimeria tenella Coinfection on Campylobacter jejuni Colonization of the Chicken.
in Infection and immunity
Boulton K
(2018)
Phenotypic and genetic variation in the response of chickens to Eimeria tenella induced coccidiosis.
in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE
Bremner A
(2021)
Kinetics of the Cellular and Transcriptomic Response to Eimeria maxima in Relatively Resistant and Susceptible Chicken Lines.
in Frontiers in immunology
Boulton K
(2018)
Dissecting the Genomic Architecture of Resistance to Eimeria maxima Parasitism in the Chicken.
in Frontiers in genetics
Wu Z
(2016)
Analysis of the function of IL-10 in chickens using specific neutralising antibodies and a sensitive capture ELISA.
in Developmental and comparative immunology
Williams J
(2022)
Differential expression of microRNAs in the caecal content and faeces of broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria.
in Avian pathology : journal of the W.V.P.A
Description | Eimeria species parasites can cause coccidiosis, most notably in poultry where control relies on routine chemoprophylaxis and/or live parasite vaccination. Both approaches can be highly effective, although legislative pressure on drug use, increasing drug resistance and the limited production capacity of many vaccines pose significant problems. In response, there is now considerable incentive to breed chickens with greater resistance to Eimeria. Here, Cobb500 broilers (a leading commercial chicken line) were subject to parasite or mock challenge for use in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Phenotypes percentage body weight gain and intestinal lesion score were assessed as measures of productivity and pathogenicity, supplemented by serum interleukin-10 (IL-10, measured from blood) as a biomarker of intestinal inflammation. All chickens included in the study were genotyped using a panel of 62,000 genetic markers. Significant variation was recorded in response to infection in all traits, indicating scope to explore the genetic basis of each trait. Percentage body weight gain exhibited a negative association with intestinal lesion score and IL-10, illustrating the cost of parasite infection. A positive association was detected between lesion score and IL-10. GWAS identified genetic markers associated with body weight gain during parasite infection with suggestive genome-wide significance. Complementary analyses with samples collected from historic studies using White Leghorn chickens identified genetic markers which associated with lesion score and IL-10, in addition to parasite replication. Combined, these markers offer the opportunity to breed for chickens capable of improved productivity and welfare in the face of parasite challenge. At the beginning of the project our hypothesis anticipated two distinct groups of chickens: those that would be resistant or susceptible to parasite infection. Intriguingly, our analyses revealed a third group: chickens who were susceptible to infection but performed as if they were resistant. Such tolerant birds pose a significant welfare concern and the ability to differentiate tolerant from resistant individuals will be important if chickens are to be selectively bred for parasite resistance. Circulating IL-10 was identified as a likely discriminatory marker between tolerance and resistance and is now the subject of a new research project. Additional outputs from the project include the development and validation of a new quantitative molecular tool to define parasite replication. Application of the tool permits more sensitive analysis than was previously possible using smaller numbers of chickens to achieve statistical significance, providing a key Reduction in ethical terms. |
Exploitation Route | Findings will be of value to future chicken husbandry and breeding. They are also informing future research strategies in the UK and abroad. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | Data generated here has informed on the relative susceptibility/resistance of modern commercial broiler chickens to infection by Eimeria tenella. Detection of a subset of birds which are genetically predisposed to tolerate infection is an important welfare finding and is likely to influence parasite spreading. These findings are now being considered in chicken breeding studies to improve economic performance and animal welfare. The work has also supported a new BBSRC project focused on the use of interleukin-10 as a biomarked of intestinal inflammation, as well as the establishment of a new Global Challenges Research Fund hub: One Health Poultry. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | GCRF One Health Poultry Hub |
Amount | £17,718,608 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/S011269/1 |
Organisation | Royal Veterinary College (RVC) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 02/2025 |
Description | Horizon 2020 |
Amount | € 340,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | Houghton Trust Small Research Fund |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Houghton Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 09/2016 |
Description | The role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the regulation of innate immunity in the domestic chicken |
Amount | £399,507 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P021638/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 10/2021 |
Description | Understanding the contribution of host genetics, intestinal structure and microbiome diversity to gut health in broiler chickens |
Amount | £186,324 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2548047 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 09/2025 |
Title | Quantitative PCR for Eimeria parasite genome counting during in vivo infection |
Description | A pre-existing quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay used to count Eimeria parasite genomes has been complemented by addition of a second qPCR to quantify host genomes. The assay has been validated and compared with traditional parasitological measures such as total oocyst output per bird. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This research tool will be essential to map the genetic basis of chicken susceptibility/resistance to infection and disease caused by Eimeria species parasites where experimental group sizes will exceed capacity for traditional measures of parasite replication. The technique can also be applied to field studies of coccidiosis and offers considerable opportunitites to improve bird welfare since: 1. In some experimental models there is now no need to cage birds individually to assess parasite replication. Housing birds in groups in floor pens allows them to express more natural behaviours (REFINEMENT). 2. The precision achieved using qPCR improves statistical power, facilitating the use of smaller group sizes (REDUCTION). A manuscript describing this work is currently in preparation. |
Description | 16th International Scientific Conference (ISCon XVI), Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation at an international conference focused One Health. Included a mixed audience of academics, students, government, industry and practioners. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | ARC Dissemination event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | ARC dissemination event including peer researchers, policy makers, industry representatives, included feedback on research, direct value to industry and suggestions for future directions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | ARC Dissemination event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | ARC dissemination event, Edinburgh |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | American Society of Parasitologists Annual Conference - invited presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited conference presentation, disseminating results to a N. American audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Animal Pharm article from Veterinary Vaccines network meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation plus breakout group - led to a report in Animal Pharm. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Avian Infectious Diseases 2021. Microbiology Society online conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited conference presentation exploring progress towards development of novel anticoccidial vaccines |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | British Council - Higher Education Partnership funded workshop exploring practices in poultry production, rearing and health |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A workshop was organised with support from the British Council - Higher Education Partnership to explore current practices in poultry production, rearing and health. the meeting included ~25 representatives from industry, government, veterinary and academic sectors. the workshop was wide ranging, but included aspects of coccidiosis, microbiomes and risks to public through pathogens such as avian influenza and foodborne zoonoses. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | British Egg Marketing Board (BEMB) Trust |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation followed by discussion of parasite/host/microbiome interactions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | British Egg Marketing Board - working group + presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Working group meeting reviewing UK research related to poultry health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | British Society for Immunology vaccine affinity group meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | ~60 people attended the presentation, which prompted questions and discussion afterwards. I have become a reviewer for a new journal as a result of increased awareness of RVC science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | British Veterinary Poultry Association Spring meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Dissemination of latest knowledge related to poultry health to veterinary practitioners and industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Britsh Poultry Council |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presented to the BPC and engaged in discussion on intestinal dysbiosis, impact of Eimeria and microbiomes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | DISCONTOOLS Coccidiosis (Poultry) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Working group and report published updating understanding of the impact and control of coccidiosis |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.discontools.eu/database/68-coccidiosis.html |
Description | Engormix interview at Poultry Universe |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Interview related to microbiomes and host genetics talk at Poultry Universe. Published online through the Engormix website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Engormix video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Video of conference presentation 'Broilers, Eimeria and enteric microbiomes - a tale of tolerance' launched on the Engormix website, supplemented by a recorded interview. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-industry/videos/broilers-eimeria-enteric-microbiomes-tale-toleran... |
Description | European Coccidiosis Discussion Group (ECDG) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Industry/academia networking event including presentations and discussions around ongoing RVC projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Eurotier, Hannover |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended Eurotier tradeshow, including presentation on current projects and relevance to poultry producers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Further education college visit (Bedfordshire) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | 15 pupils attending a short lecture on DNA fingerprinting and its application, followed by two practical sessions. In the first session we extracted genomic DNA. In the second we set up a PCR and resolved the product by agarose gel electrophoresis. The sessions sparked questions and discussion, including some email correspondence over the following week. Several of the students reported that they had enjoyed the sessions, prompting them to consider registering for a third year degree upgrade programme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
Description | Hipra World Virtual Poultry Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation to an industry symposium, focusing on microbiology and immunology of chickens with relevance to health and welfare. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Hipra visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Visit to animal health company to discuss projects and future possible opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Huvepharma advanced Eimeria workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Industry led training workshop - included theoretical and practical aspects in two day format. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | IHSIG lecture posted online |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Recording of conference presentation, posted on Engormix network |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-industry/videos/broilers-eimeria-enteric-microbiomes-tale-toleran... |
Description | Industry magazine article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Lay article written and translated for publication in the magazine 'Polish Poultry', describing modern understanding of coccidiosis control in poultry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Internet interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Interview with Engormix at the IHSIG conference, loaded onto website with international audience, advertised to network by email. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-industry/videos/damer-blake-talks-about-his-research-eimeria-geno... |
Description | Intestinal Health Scientific Interest Group (IHSIG) - invited presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited conference presentation, followed by participation in public debate. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited presentation at the Veterinary Research Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation to Veterinary Research Club. Online delivery to ~25 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Keynote presentation at the 4th Eimeriana Avia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited keynote presentation to open the 4th Eimeriana Avia. An audience of ~400, primarily veterinarians as well as animal health and breeding company representatives. Discussions and proposals for collaboration followed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Noble Foods industry training |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Noble Foods Ltd requested a training workshop focused on RVC studies with relevance to laying chickens. I organised the 1.5 day workshop, including provision of a series of talks from RVC academics and a industry representative working group. Interest in contract research facilities at RVC and opportunities for industrial partnership research applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Parasitology conference (Dresden) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation focused on the occurrence of Eimeria around the world, their impact on poultry, microbiomes and society. Preliminary discussions related to future collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.icc2014.de/?node=55 |
Description | Plenary presentation - Eimeriana Avia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | ~200 delegates at an international conference that primarily drew practitioners and businesses from Eastern Europe. Considerable discussion around microbiomes, chicken genetics and the potential to modulate the microbiome and immune responses to improve productivity and welfare. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Polish veterinary workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Training and update on the state of understanding in veterinary parasitology with relevance to poultry production and health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Poultry Diseases Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poultry practitioner workshop covering current issues in poultry health and production - included host, parasite and microbiome information |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Poultry Diseases group meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | ~20 people, including veterinary practitioners, animal production and health company representatives, government officials and academics, attended the meeting. During this meeting we briefly presented and discussed our work to map the genetic basis of resistance or suscpetibility to Eimeria in chickens. Discussion about provision of samples and future data dissemination. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
Description | Poultry Health Course |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presenting the pathology and control of Eimeria, including interactions with host genetics and the enteric microflora. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
Description | Poultry Universe orund table debate |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Round table debate on poultry health, dysbiosis, coccidiosis and the importance of husbandry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Practioner workshop, University of Kwazulu-Natal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | ~30 industry representatives and veterinary practioners attended a workshop at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Discussed project outcomes and follow application to the field. Dissemination of results to a wider community, capacity/capability building. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation vaccine development - 6th International Meeting on Apicomplexan Parasites in Farm Animals |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation by Dr Jose Jaramillo-Ortiz "Yeast-vectored oral immunisation in commercial layer chickens against Eimeria tenella" delivered to the 6th International Meeting on Apicomplexan Parasites in Farm Animals (October 2022) followed by questions from ~120 audience members. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | RVC Bioinformatics day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | ~50 people including undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as early career researchers, attended a workshop focused on improving awareness and understanding of next-generation sequencing technologies. Prompted questions and discussion, as well as one embryonic collaboration. Support offered to a postgraduate towards application for research fellowship funding. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | SAPHIR network newsletter contribution |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Contributed article to SAPHIR network newsletter |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Student workshops and training, University of Kwazulu-Natal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | ~20 students (undergraduate and postgraduate) attended a series of taught sessions and practical workshops focused on Eimeria, parasite, microbiome and chicken genetics at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Dissemination of results to a wider community, capacity/capability building. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | University of Kent invited talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | ~80 people attended an invited talk in the University of Kent external seminar series. A series of questions were addressed after the talk, followed by 1-2-1 discussions on possible projects and grant applications. focused on the microbiome, as well as aspects of host susceptibility and genetics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | World Veterinary Poultry Association - scientific committee and conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Scientific committee + public panel debate |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | World Veterinary Poultry Association CPD day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | ~150 delegates attended a CPD training day organised by the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Malaysia branch. The day featured a series of talks from academics, industry representatives and veterinarians. Two talks decribing BBSRC funded studies were presented, focusing on (i) occurrence and genetic diversity of Eimeria, and (ii) the poultry enteric microbiome and links to chicken genetics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |