Areas of Expertise:

Poultry immunology (broilers, layers, turkeys)
Enteric pathogens and intestinal Health
Foodborne pathogens (pre-harvest)

Education:

Ph.D., Poultry Science/Immunology, University of Maryland
M.S., Poultry Science/Microbiology, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
B.S., Agriculture/Animal Sciences, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
Diploma, Ingénieur Agricole, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

Research Interests:

Research in our laboratory intersects with several multidisciplinary focus areas within the UGA Department of Poultry Science. Our driving focus investigates host-pathogen interactions during enteric challenges with particular emphasis on coccidiosis and clostridial diseases in chickens and turkeys, very impactful diseases of commercial poultry. Additionally, we explore various applications of antibiotic alternatives to mitigate the adverse effects of enteric (e.g. Eimeria, Clostridium, Histomonas) and foodborne (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter) pathogens. In this context, we examine the molecular mechanisms of mucosal immunomodulation and physio-immunological responses of the host during such challenges. Further, we interrogate issues of nutritional immunology specifically applications for enhancing the early development and competence of the immune system as well as promoting a healthy microbiome. We employ unique bacterial and parasitic challenge models with commercial broilers and turkeys to assess the efficacy of vaccines and feed/water additives, including an effective lateral transmission model of Histomonas meleagridis in turkey poults.

Current Lab Members:

Dr. Ali Calik (Visiting Professor, Ankara University)
Dr. Benjamin Jackwood (Postdoc)
Candice Blue (PhD)
Davis Fenster (PhD)
Bingqi Dong (PhD)
Grace Perrin (PhD)
Abhisek Niraula (MS)

Recruitment:

If our research areas excite you, email your CV/Resume and research interests to Rami.Dalloul@uga.edu.

Selected Recent Publications:

Blue CEC, Emami NK, White MB, Cantley S, Dalloul RA. Inclusion of quillaja saponin Clarity Q manages growth performance, immune responese, and nutrient transports of broilers during subclinical necrotic enteritis. Microorganisms, 10:3390. 2023.

Henschen AE, Vinkler M, Langager MM, Rowley AA, Dalloul RA, Hawley DM, Adelman JS. Rapid adaptation to a novel pathogen through disease tolerance in a wild songbird. PLoS Pathogens, 19: e1011408. 2023.

Emami NK, Fuller AL, Dalloul RA. Research note: Lateral transmission of Histomonas meleagridis in turkey poults raised on floor pens. Poultry Science, 101:101951. 2022.

Calik A, Emami NK, Schyns G, White MB, Walsh MC, Romero LF, Dalloul RA. Influence of dietary vitamin E and selenium supplementation on broilers subjected to heat stress, Part II: oxidative stress, immune response, gut integrity, and intestinal microbiota. Poultry Science, 101:101858. 2022.

Calik A, Emami NK, White MB, Walsh MC, Romero LF, Dalloul RA. Influence of dietary vitamin E and selenium supplementation on broilers subjected to heat stress, Part I: Growth performance, body composition and intestinal nutrient transporters. Poultry Science, 101:101857. 2022.

Weitzman CL, Belden LK, May M, Langager MM, Dalloul RA, Hawley DM. Antibiotic perturbation of gut bacteria does not significantly alter host responses to ocular disease in a songbird species. PeerJ, 10:e13559. 2022.

Estienne MJ, William KA, Emami NK, Clark-Deener SG, Dalloul RA. Effects of different parenteral iron treatment regimens on hematology characteristics, serum concentrations of hepcidin, and growth performance in pigs fed nursery diets supplemented with copper. Journal of Swine Health & Production, 30:210-222. 2022.

Emami NK, Dalloul RA. CENTENNIAL REVIEW: Recent developments in host-pathogen interactions during necrotic enteritis in poultry. Poultry Science, 100:101330. 2021.

Emami NK, Calik A, White MB, Kimminau EA, Dalloul RA. Managing broilers gut health with antibiotic-free diets during subclinical necrotic enteritis. Poultry Science, 100:101055. 2021.

Omara II, Pender CM, White MB, Dalloul RA. The modulating effect of dietary beta-glucan supplementation on expression of immune response genes of broilers during a coccidiosis challenge. Animals, 11:151. 2021.

Emami NK, Calik A, White MB, Kimminau EA, Dalloul RA. Effect of probiotics and multi-component feed additives on microbiota, gut barrier and immune responses in broiler chickens during subclinical necrotic enteritis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7:572142. 2020.

Calik A, Omara II, White MB, Evans NP, Karnezos TP, Dalloul RA. Dietary non-drug feed additive as an alternative for antibiotic growth promoters for broilers during a necrotic enteritis challenge. Microorganisms, 7:257. 2019.

Calik A, Omara II, White MB, Li W, Dalloul RA. Effects of dietary direct fed microbial supplementation on performance, intestinal morphology and immune response of broiler chickens challenged with coccidiosis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6:463. 2019.

Emami NK, Calik A, White MB, Young M, Dalloul RA. Necrotic enteritis: The role of tight junctions and mucosal immune responses in alleviating the effects of the disease. Microorganisms, 7:231. 2019.

Ma D, Huang Y, Ma C, Zhang L, Wang J, Dian Wang D, Li J, Dalloul RA. Eimeria tenella: specific EtAMA1-binding peptides inhibit sporozoite entry into host cells. Poultry Science, 98:4480-4491. 2019.

Shan C, Sun B, Dalloul RA, Zhai Z, Sun P, Li M, Luan W, Yang S. Effect of the oral administration of astragalus polysaccharides on jejunum mucosal immunity in chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease. Microbial Pathogenesis, 135:103621. 2019.

Ott CP, Omara II, Persia M, Dalloul RA. The impact of β-glucans on performance and response of broiler chickens during a coccidiosis challenge. Poultry Science, 97:2713-2721. 2018.

Petruzzi B, Dalloul RA, LeRoith T, Evans NP, Pierson FW, Inzana TJ. Biofilm formation and avian immune response following experimental acute and chronic avian cholera due to Pasteurella multocida. Veterinary Microbiology, 222:114-123. 2018.

Pender CM, Kim S, Sumners LH, Ritzi MM, Young M, Dalloul RA. In ovo and dietary supplementation of probiotics affects post-hatch expression of immune-related genes in broiler chicks. Journal of Immunobiology, 2:3. 2017.

Vinkler M, Leon AE, Kirkpatrick L, Dalloul RA, Hawley DM. Differing house finch cytokine expression responses to original and evolved isolates of a newly emerged bacterial pathogen. Frontiers in Immunology, 9:13. 2018.

Matarneh SK, Yen CN, Elgin J, Beline M, Silva S, Wicks JC, England EM, Persia M, Omara II, Dalloul RA, Shi H, Gerrard DE. Phosphofructokinase and mitochondria partially explain the high ultimate pH of broiler pectoralis major muscle. Poultry Science, 97:1808-1817. 2018.

Adikari AMJB, Xu J, Casterlow S, Li H, Gilbert ER, McElroy AP, Emmerson DA, Dalloul RA, Wong EA, Smith EJ. Haplotype structure and DNA sequence variation of the liver expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (chLEAP-2) gene in chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima. International Journal of Poultry Science, 16:336-343. 2017.

Pender CM, Kim S, Potter TD, Ritzi MM, Young M, Dalloul RA. In ovo supplementation of probiotics and its effects on performance and immune-related gene expression in broiler chicks. Poultry Science, 96:1052-1062. 2017.

Kim S, Park M, Leon AE, Adelman JS, Hawley DM, Dalloul RA. Development and validation of a house finch interleukin-1β (HfIL-1β) ELISA system. BMC Veterinary Research, 13:1-8. 2017.

Evans NP, Collins DA, Pierson FW, Mahsoub HM, Sriranganathan N, Persia M, Karnezos TP, Sims MD, Dalloul RA. Investigation of medium chain fatty acid feed supplementation for reducing Salmonella Typhimurium colonization in turkey poults. Foodborne Pathogens & Disease, 14:531-536. 2017.

Hamad SK, Kim S, El-Kadi SW, Wong EA, Dalloul RA. Comparative expression of host defense peptides in turkey poults. Poultry Science, 96:2083-2090. 2017.

Park M, Kim S, Adelman JS, Leon AE, Hawley DM, Dalloul RA. Identification and functional characterization of the house finch interleukin-1β. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 69:41-50. 2017.

Daughtry MR, Berio E, Shen Z, Suess E, Shah N, Geiger AE, Berguson ER, Dalloul RA, Shi H, Gerrard DE. Satellite cell-mediated breast muscle regeneration deceases with broiler size. Poultry Science, 96: 3457-3464. 2017.

Ritzi MM, Abdelrahman W, van-Heerden K, Mohnl M, Barrett NW, Dalloul RA. Combination of probiotics and coccidiosis vaccine enhances protection against an Eimeria challenge. Veterinary Research, 47:1-8. 2016.

Park M, Kim S, Fetterer RH, Dalloul RA. Functional characterization of the turkey macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 61:198-207. 2016.

Pender CM, Kim S, Potter TD, Ritzi MM, Young M, Dalloul RA. Effects of in ovo supplementation of probiotics on performance and immunocompetence of broiler chicks to an Eimeria challenge. Beneficial Microbes, 7:699-705. 2016.

Potter TD, Glover PK, Evans , Dalloul RA. Differential ex vivo responses of primary leukocytes from turkey pedigree lines to Salmonella Heidelberg. Poultry Science, 95:364-369. 2016.

Yin H, Sumners LH, Dalloul RA, Miska KB, Fetterer RH, Jenkins MC, Zhu Q, Wong EA. Expression of an antimicrobial peptide, digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters in the intestine of E. praecox-infected chickens. Poultry Science, 94:1521-1526. 2015.

Cox CM, Dalloul RA. Immunomodulatory role of probiotics in poultry and potential in ovo application. Beneficial Microbes, 6:45-52. 2015.

Lu T, Harper A, Dibner JJ, Scheffler JM, Corl BA, Zhao J, Estienne MJ, Dalloul RA. Supplementing antioxidants to pigs fed diets high in oxidants: II. Effects on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acid profile. Journal of Animal Science, 92:5464-5475. 2014.

Lu T, Harper AF, Zhao J, Estienne MJ, Dalloul RA. Supplementing antioxidants to pigs fed diets high in oxidants: I. Effects on growth performance, liver function, and oxidative status. Journal of Animal Science, 92:5455-5463. 2014.

Ritzi MM, Abdelrahman W, Mohnl M, Dalloul RA. Effects of probiotics and application methods on performance and response of broiler chickens to an Eimeria challenge. Poultry Science, 93:2772-2778. 2014.

Kim S, Cox CM, Jenkins MC, Fetterer RH, Miska KB, Dalloul RA. Both host and parasite MIF molecules bind to chicken macrophages via CD74 surface receptor. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 47:319-326. 2014.

Lu T, Harper AF, Zhao J, Corl BA, LeRoith T, Dalloul RA. Effects of a dietary antioxidant blend and vitamin E on fatty acid profile, liver function and inflammatory response in broiler chickens fed a diet high in oxidants. Poultry Science, 93:1658-1666. 2014.

Lu T, Harper AF, Zhao J, Dalloul RA. Effects of a dietary antioxidant blend and vitamin E on growth performance, oxidative status, and meat quality in broiler chickens fed a diet high in oxidants. Poultry Science, 93:1649-1657. 2014.

Dalloul RA, Zimin AV, Settlage RE, Kim S, Reed KM. Next generation sequencing strategies for characterizing the turkey genome. Poultry Science, 93:479-484. 2014.

Ma D, Gao M, Dalloul RA, Ge J, Ma C, Li J. Protective effects of oral immunization with live Lactococcus lactis expressing Eimeria tenella 3-1E protein. Parasitology Research, 112:4161-4167. 2013.

Miska KB, Kim S, Fetterer RH, Dalloul RA, Jenkins MC. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) of the protozoan parasite Eimeria influences the components of the immune system of its host, the chicken. Parasitology Research, 112:1935-1944. 2013.

Kim S, Faris L, Cox CM, Sumners LH, Jenkins MC, Fetterer RH, Miska KB, Dalloul RA. Molecular characterization and immunological roles of avian IL-22 and its soluble receptor IL-22 binding protein. Cytokine, 60:815-827. 2012.

Parra ZE, Mitchell K, Dalloul RA, Miller RD. A second TCRδ locus in Galliformes uses antibody-like V domains: insight into the evolution of TCRδ and TCRµ genes in tetrapods. The Journal of Immunology, 188:3912-3919. 2012.

Sumners LH, Cox CM, Kim S, Salevsky JS, Siegel PB, Dalloul RA. Immunological responses to Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin in two genetically divergent lines of chickens as influenced by major histocompatibility complex genotype. Poultry Science, 91:592-603. 2012.

Casterlow S, Li H, Gilbert ER, Dalloul RA, McElroy AP, Emmerson DA, Wong EA. An antimicrobial peptide is downregulated in the small intestine of Eimeria maxima infected chickens. Poultry Science, 90:1212-1219. 2011.

Sumners LH, Miska KB, Jenkins MC, Fetterer RH, Cox CM, Kim S, Dalloul RA. Expression of Toll-like receptors and antimicrobial peptides during Eimeria praecox infection in chickens. Experimental Parasitology, 127:714-718. 2011.

Gilbert ER, Cox CM, Williams PA, McElroy AP, Dalloul RA, Ray KA, Barri A, Emmerson DA, Wong EA, Webb KE, Jr. Eimeria species and genetic background influence the serum protein profile of broilers with coccidiosis. PLoS One, 6(1):e14636. 2011.

Cox CM, Dalloul RA. Beta-glucans in poultry: use and potential applications. Avian Biology Research, 3:171-178. 2010.

Cox CM, Sumners L, Kim S, McElroy AP, Bedford M, Dalloul RA. Immune responses to dietary β-glucan in broiler chicks during an Eimeria challenge. Poultry Science, 89:2597-2607. 2010.

Dalloul RA, Long JA, Zimin AV, Aslam L, Beal K, Blomberg LA, Bouffard P, Burt DW, ….., Reed KM. Multi-platform next-generation sequencing of the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): Genome assembly and analysis. PLoS Biology, 8:9. 2010.

Kim S, Miska KB, Jenkins MC, Fetterer RH, Cox CM, Stuard LH, Dalloul RA. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the avian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 34:1021-1032. 2010.

Cox CM, Stuard LH, Kim S, McElroy AP, Bedford MR, Dalloul RA. Performance and immune responses to dietary beta-glucan in broiler chicks. Poultry Science, 89:1924-1933. 2010.

Kim S, Miska KB, McElroy AP, Jenkins MC, Fetterer RH, Cox CM, Stuard LH, Dalloul RA. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of avian interleukin-19. Molecular Immunology, 47:476-484. 2009.

Additional Publications:

• PubMed
• Google Scholar