Veterinary Sciences

17 pages, 609 KB

Open AccessReview

Quorum Sensing Modulators as Antibiotic Alternatives in Animal Production: From Bacterial Signaling to Gut Health and Performance

by Chenxin Tang, Kehui Ouyang, Mingren Qu and Qinghua Qiu

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(6), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13060507 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2026

Abstract

In intensive animal production, the overuse of antibiotics has exacerbated bacterial antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution. Together with gut microbiota dysbiosis and recurrent disease outbreaks, these challenges severely constrain the sector’s high-quality development. Quorum sensing (QS), a cell-density-dependent bacterial communication mechanism, can be modulated through agents that specifically inhibit or activate QS circuitry to regulate microbial community functions. Such QS modulators possess notable advantages, such as environmental benignity and high target specificity, and thus offer innovative strategies to decrease antibiotic reliance, enhance production efficiency, and reduce environmental emissions. This review examines QS modulators sourced from plants, microorganisms, animals, and synthetic processes, while highlighting key challenges such as environmental interference, resistance development, high costs, and the lack of standardized biosafety evaluations. Future research should focus on enhancing specificity, stability, affordability, and safety, with an emphasis on rational design, synergistic systems, improved manufacturing processes, and multi-target modulators. This review may provide a theoretical basis for translating QS-regulation technologies into farm-level applications, thereby advancing sustainable animal production and antibiotic-free husbandry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology)

12 pages, 2766 KB

Open AccessArticle

Combined PRP and CCP Therapy Suppresses Inflammation and Protects Cartilage in Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

by Tianwen Ma, Yongti Liu, Yanan Li, Hui Bai, Xiaxin Liu, Zongsheng Qiu, Yuhui Ma, Hai Li and Baoming Shi

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(6), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13060506 (registering DOI) - 22 May 2026

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Cervus and Cucumis polypeptide (CCP) injections in rats with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). The model was established by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament, and the animals were subsequently treated with PRP and CCP. Articular cartilage degeneration was assessed through gross morphological observation, histopathological staining, and a standardized scoring system. Concurrently, pain-related behaviors, joint swelling, levels of inflammatory cytokines, and markers associated with extracellular matrix degradation were measured. The results demonstrated that, compared with the OA model group, PRP and CCP exhibited varying degrees of functional improvement, specifically, a reduction in pain-related behaviors and an alleviation of joint swelling. Furthermore, cartilage morphological damage was diminished, inflammatory marker levels decreased, and indicators of extracellular matrix degradation were attenuated. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues revealed no apparent abnormalities. This study provides valuable experimental evidence for further treatment strategies for OA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory and Degenerative Disorders in Veterinary Medicine: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies)

15 pages, 2922 KB

Open AccessArticle

BVDV NS5A Binds to CKAP2 and Activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway to Facilitate Virus Transmission Through Tunneling Nanotubes

by Jiying Yin, Yanan Zhu, Jiating Zhang, Zehui Zhou, Ning He, Hongming Zhou, Xiaoqun Liu, Yixing Zhao, Longge Zhao, Ying Zong, Naichao Diao, Kun Shi, Nan Li and Rui Du

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(6), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13060505 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a significant global pathogen threatening cattle industries worldwide, presents substantial challenges for disease control. Its ability to infect cattle across all age groups, coupled with incompletely understood transmission mechanisms, complicates prevention and treatment strategies. We previously reported that BVDV induced tunneling nanotubes (TNTs)—F-actin-rich cytoplasmic connections between adjacent cells—and utilizes these structures for intercellular transmission. In this study, we used lentiviral transfection to express various structural and non-structural proteins of BVDV and identified NS5A as a critical viral protein that induces the formation of TNTs. RNA-seq analysis revealed that CKAP2, a host protein, plays a key role in TNT generation, with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway being essential for this process. Further investigation demonstrated that CKAP2 interacts with BVDV NS5A, triggering the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby promoting TNT formation and enhancing viral dissemination. Our data highlight a previously unknown mechanism of BVDV spreading and replication, which could have significant implications for within-host spread and immune evasion. Full article

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17 pages, 1806 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Energy Structure in Low-Protein Diets Reduced Body Fat Deposition in Geese

by Xucheng Zheng, Jie Shen, Zhi Yang, Wei Wang, Xuan Li, Haiming Yang and Zhiyue Wang

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(6), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13060504 - 22 May 2026

Abstract

This study examined the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level and starch: fat ratio (SFR) on glucose and lipid metabolism in geese. A total of 360 male Jiangnan White geese were allocated to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with two CP levels (14.5% and 16.5%) and three SFRs (SFR_20:1, SFR_11:1, and SFR_5:1) from 28 to 63 days of age. Under the low-protein condition, Both the SFR_11:1 and SFR_5:1 group enhanced body weight of geese at 63 d, but SFR _5:1 increased subcutaneous and abdominal fat deposition. Dietary SFR changed liver cholesterol metabolism and glycogen content, while CP levels mainly affected the activity of enzymes related to liver glucose and lipid metabolism: 14.5% CP increased AMPK and ACC activity, but decreased FAS, CS and G6PC activity. Both CP level and SFR altered muscle fatty acid composition, but the effect of SFR was usually more significant. An SFR of 11:1 was beneficial for improving the muscle fatty acid profile. Gene expression analysis further revealed that low protein compensatorily regulated liver energy metabolism, while excessive fat in low SFR diets led to lipid metabolism disorders. In conclusion, optimizing the energy structure of low-protein diets, especially by maintaining a medium SFR (11:1), could improve glucose and lipid metabolism in geese while increasing body weight. Full article

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Vet. Sci., Volume 13, Issue 6 (June 2026) – 4 articles

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