{
  "abstract": "Host defense peptides (HDPs) possess both direct bacteriocidal and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, chicken cathelicidin-1 (cCATH-1) and chicken cathelicidin-3 (cCATH-3) were selected based on their markedly different minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains, with MICs of cCATH-1 being 4- to 16-fold lower than those of cCATH-3. However, following intraperitoneal challenge with APEC strain E058 (4 × 10⁶ CFU/mouse), 80% of cCATH-3 treated mice survived while 20% of cCATH-1 treated mice survived. Flow cytometry (FC) revealed significantly lower peripheral blood Ly6Chigh monocytes but higher peritoneal Ly6Chigh macrophages in cCATH-3-treated mice at 4 and 8 h post-treatment. Peritoneal CCL3 secretion was significantly upregulated in cCATH-3 treated mice at 8 h post-treatment. Upon knockout of macrophages, the protection of cCATH-3 in mice against APEC E058 challenge was markedly abolished. In vitro, peritoneal macrophages treated with cCATH-3 showed stronger bacteriocidal activity than those treated with cCATH-1. Mouse CCL-3 (mCCL3)-specific antibody neutralize the effect of mCCL3 on macrophages chemotaxis in vitro. mCCL3-specific antibody administration resulted in 0% survival in cCATH-3-treated mice versus 60% survival in cCATH-3-treated mice administered with mock antibody, while cCATH-1-treated mice showed 0% survival administered with either mCCL3-specific antibody or mock antibody after APEC E058 strain challenge. In summary, cCATH-3 provides robust protection against APEC infection compared with cCATH-1 in mice, partially through CCL3-mediated macrophage chemotaxis and enhanced bacteriocidal activity in activated macrophages, revealing a novel mechanism of avian cathelicidins and supporting HDPs as alternatives to antibiotics for controlling avian colibacillosis.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Luyao Jiang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fan Yang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiayan Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhengliang Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiemin Zhu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hao Pan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shaotong Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Haochun Pan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hang Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jingting Yao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ping Yan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qingqing Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Changchao Huan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Song Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xinan Jiao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiufan Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/01c18c9azfy13.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13567-026-01844-5",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "01c18c9azfy13",
  "issns": [
    "0928-4249",
    "1297-9716"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05793440v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2404|Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220694456",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05793440/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "BioMed Central",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/01c18c9azfy13.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:54Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05793440",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05793440v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2404|Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Chicken cathelicidin-3 protected mice from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infection mediated by triggering chemokine CCL3 pathway",
  "title_text": "Chicken cathelicidin-3 protected mice from avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infection mediated by triggering chemokine CCL3 pathway",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:54Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/01c18c9azfy13",
  "venue": "Veterinary Research",
  "versions": []
}