G. K. Duskaev, D. G. Deryabin
Federal Scientific Center of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia
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Volume 26 No. 8
Date of paper submission: 16.06.2026, date of review: 02.07.2026, date of acceptance: 29.07.2026.
Published: 08/31/2026
Abstract. Recent observations of the iliac microbiota of poultry are insufficient, especially against the background of feeding biologically active substances. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in the microbial community of poultry intestines when vanillin (0.5 mg/kg) and coumarin (2.0 mg/kg) were added to the diet, which have an inhibitory effect on the density – dependent communication systems in bacteria. Research object is an Arbor Acres broiler chickens (age 7 days). The effect of small molecules of plant origin (vanillin and coumarin) on the microbiome of the ileum of broiler chickens was studied. Methods: DNA isolation and subsequent sequencing of the 16S-rRNA gene (high-throughput DNA sequencer MiSeq (Illumina Inc., USA)); sequence processing; bioinformatics analysis; calculation of alpha and beta diversity indices. The scientific novelty lies in expanding the understanding of the mechanisms of action of plant molecules on bird microbial communities. Results. During the study, the samples were sequenced and 345 279 readings (28 927 ±4023) were obtained. A comparative analysis of the control and experimental groups revealed changes in the ratio of the dominant phyla: in the control, the ratio of Bacillota/Bacteroidota was 1 : 1, in the experimental group I (vanillin) – 1 : 1.6, in the II (umbelliferon) – 1 : 5. At the level of genera, there was a decrease in Alistipes by 4.6 and 1.4 times (vanillin and umbelliferon accordingly) regarding control. At the same time, the amount of Allisonella increased 2.8-fold in the vanillin group, which is significant, since the genus is capable of producing histamine. The analysis of alpha and beta diversity showed an increase in the abundance of microorganisms (according to the Chao1 and ASE indices) in group II; uniformity of the microbiome structure (according to the Shannon and Simpson indices); differences in species composition between groups (according to the Bray – Curtis and Jensen – Shannon indices). Thus, the results confirm that herbal supplements significantly alter the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiome of poultry.
Keywords: microbiome, sequencing, vanillin, umbelliferon, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, alpha‑diversity, beta‑diversity
Acknowledgements. The study was carried out as part of the state assignment FNWZ-2025-0003.
For citation: Duskaev G. K., Deryabin D. G. Taxonomic composition of the microbiota of the ileum of broiler chickens against the background of feeding phytochemicals. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (08): 1460‒1470. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-08-1460-1470. (In Russ.)
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