Effect of Salmonella colonization on microbiome maturation and leukocyte populations

Salmonella is one of the primary agents of human gastroenteritis in the United States with contaminated poultry products serving as a major source. Salmonella is a common inhabitant of the chicken intestinal microbiota with the majority of infected birds displaying no symptoms. Multiple strategies to reduce the Salmonella load in chickens have been tested with limited success. Therefore, this study sought to further understand the changes in the intestinal microbiome and host immune response following Salmonella colonization.