The hidden function of egg white antimicrobials: egg weight-dependent effects of avidin on avian embryo survival and hatchling phenotype

Abstract

Avidin is a key egg white antimicrobial protein with strong binding capacity for biotin, an essential growth and immune cell precursor. As such, it is assumed to have a pronounced, though still poorly explored, effect on hatchling phenotype. We tested the effect of experimentally increased egg white avidin concentration (AVIDIN+) on hatching success, chick morphology, post-hatching growth performance and innate immune function in a model bird, Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Probability of embryo survival in the late embryonic phase increased with increasing egg weight in control eggs, but not in AVIDIN+ eggs. Chicks hatching from lighter AVIDIN+ eggs had a shorter tarsus than chicks hatching from heavier AVIDIN+ eggs. This suggests that an increase in egg white avidin favours embryo survival in lighter eggs during late embryogenesis, but at the expense of reduced structural body size. Plasma complement activity in 6-day-old AVIDIN+ chicks decreased with increasing body mass and tarsus length; the opposite was observed in control chicks, implying that the later post-hatching innate immune function of larger chicks was compromised by an increase in egg white avidin concentration. Here, we document an important role of egg white antimicrobials in maintenance of embryo viability, avian hatchling morphology and immune phenotype.

Effects of dietary vitamins supplementation level on the production performance and intestinal microbiota of aged laying hens

“…Avidin is well-known for its exceptionally strong and noncovalent binding with biotin. As a key antimicrobial protein in egg white, avidin plays vital roles in the maintenance of embryo viability, avian hatchling morphology, and immune phenotype ( Diederich et al., 2015 , Krkavcova et al., 2018 ). The increase of avidin and AVR in those 2 dietary groups could possibly because of the increased biotin contents.…”

An Overview of Antibody Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy

“…On the other hand, three N-acetyl glucosamine and four mannose residues constitute the oligosaccharide side chain of the tetrameric glycoprotein avidin [127,128]. Each of the four avidin monomers can bind to biotin [129].…”

Partial incubation-induced changes in concentrations of egg white antimicrobials do not influence trans-shell infection but affect hatchling phenotype

“…Effect of egg white avidin concentrations on hatchlings phenotype was not apparent in this study. Although we documented egg white avidin to alter chicks' phenotype in quail 50 , growth-inhibition effect of egg white avidin on chicks was documented to be strongly dependent on egg weight since only chicks originated from lighter eggs enriched in ovo with avidin hatched with reduced tarsus length. It follows, that although egg white AMPs may fulfil protective antimicrobial role for the embryo during early phase of embryo development, their increase in egg white may significantly compromised embryo growth and negatively affect resulted phenotype of hatchlings in precocial birds.…”

“…Therefore, while incubation may significnatly shift eggshell microbiota 6,[45][46][47][48] , its selective antimicrobial effect inside the egg is most probably inherent in mediation of changes in chemical and proteomic profile of the egg white. Furthermore, as evidence exists for physiological role of lysozyme and avidin on developing embryo resulting in alterations of hatchlings phenotypic traits 49,50 , incubation-mediated changes in egg white AMPs profile might also significantly shape hatchlings´ phenotype. Despite these facts, experimenal evidence for the interactive effects of egg white AMPs profile and incubation under natural conditions are lacking.…”

“…Finally, due to documented phenotype modulating roles of egg white lysozyme and avidin in other precocial birds 49,50,57 , we predicted ducklings´ phenotype will be modified owing to variability in egg white lysozyme and avidin concentrations.…”