Maxwell T Hincke

University of Ottawa · Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

The cuticle covering the outer surface of an eggshell functions as both a physical and chemical barrier against invading microorganisms. Contamination of eggs by microbial pathogens progresses in four stages: bacterial attachment to the egg surface, penetration through the cuticle and eggshell, multiplication within the underlying membranes, and th...

Our objective was to analyze the effect of selection for divergent traits in the domestic chicken on embryonic skeletal development, which could affect postnatal bird welfare. Development was compared between the Ross 308 broiler line (fast growth and muscle mass accrual) and Novoponte layers (high laying rate and egg quality). In Study 1 (Initial...

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most common causes of foodborne infections worldwide and a major contributor to diarrheal diseases. This study aimed to explore the ability of commensal gut bacteria to control C. jejuni infection. Bacterial strains from the intestinal mucosa of broilers were screened in vitro against C. jejuni ATCC BA...

Corneal blindness affects over 10 million patients worldwide. Due to the limited supply of donor corneas and frequent graft failure, bioengineered alternatives are crucial. To overcome drawbacks associated with corneal substitutes from synthetic biomaterials, fabrication from plant‐derived biomaterials is a potential alternative. Herein, soy protei...

In this study, we investigated the potential immunomodulatory properties of furcellaran from the red algae Furcellaria lumbricalis (FL). The crude polysaccharides were extracted and characterized by 1H-NMR, HPLC-SEC, HPLC-PAD and FTIR spectroscopy.

Biomedical applications often exploit the biodegradability and biocompatibility of natural polysaccharides. In this study, polysaccharide extracts from Chondrus crispus (CC) were characterized using HPLC-SEC, FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The proliferative and migrative capacities of various extracts on RAW264.7 cells, along with their impact on ni...

The immunomodulatory properties of the polysaccharides (carrageenan, xylan) from Chondrus crispus (CC), Ahnfeltiopsis devoniensis (AD), Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii (SG) and Palmaria palmata (PP) algal species were studied. Using RAW264.7 macrophages, we investigated the proliferation and migration capacity of different extracts along with their immu...

Background Identifying the key factors that underlie complex traits during domestication is a great challenge for evolutionary and biological studies. In addition to the protein-coding region differences caused by variants, a large number of variants are located in the noncoding regions containing multiple types of regulatory elements. However, the...

A set of high-quality pan-genomes would help identify important genes that are still hidden/incomplete in bird reference genomes. In an attempt to address these issues, we have assembled a de novo chromosome-level reference genome of the Silkie (Gallus gallus domesticus), which is an important avian model for unique traits, like fibromelanosis, wit...

This chapter’s main aim has been to summarize the research landscape pertaining to chicken eggshell and membrane constituents over the last three decades, from which much of our knowledge of avian eggshell mineralization, function and composition are derived. Many biochemical, nutritional, morphological, physiological and structural studies have be...

Seaweed polysaccharides are reported to possess biological and medicinal properties. Specifically, the antioxidant activity of seaweed extracts is the subject of intensive research due to ever-increasing demands from the food and pharmaceutical industries. The structure and composition of polysaccharides (carrageenan, xylan) extracted from four red...

This study describes the development and characterization of novel composite scaffolds, made of an alginate‐chitosan hydrogel matrix containing eggshell (ES) particles, for bone tissue engineering applications. Scaffolds with ES particles, either untreated or treated with phosphoric acid to create a nanotextured particle surface, were compared to s...

In this study, we aimed to develop a protective probiotic coculture to inhibit the growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the simulated chicken gut environment. Bacterial strains were isolated from the digestive mucosa of broilers and screened in vitro against Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028. A biocompatibility coculture test was pe...

The wound-healing process involves an active, complex, and integrated series of cellular, physiological, and biochemical changes. In the present study, four species of Canadian marine red algae were used to evaluate their immunomodulatory properties.

The physicochemical features of the avian eggshell membrane play an essential role in the process of calcium carbonate deposition during shell mineralization, giving rise to a porous mineralized tissue with remarkable mechanical properties and biological functions. The membrane could be useful by itself or as a bi-dimensional scaffold to build futu...

The chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an extraembryonic membrane that is vital for the embryo. It undergoes profound cell differentiation between 11 and 15 days of embryonic incubation (EID), which corresponds to the acquisition of its physiological functions. To gain insight into the functional genes that accompany these biological changes...

Bioactive compounds contained in green seaweed polysaccharides (i.e., ulvan, sulfated or/and pyruvylated β-d-galactans, sulfated xyloarabinogalactan) are still being explored for exploitation by pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. The current study was conducted on sulfated polysaccharides from four different green seaweeds, Ulva lactuca,...

The calcitic avian eggshell provides physical protection for the embryo during its development, but also regulates water and gaseous exchange, and is a calcium source for bone mineralization. The calcified eggshell has been extensively investigated in the chicken. It is characterized by an inventory of more than 900 matrix proteins. In addition to...

In oviparous animals, the egg contains all resources required for embryonic development. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a placenta-like structure produced by the embryo for acid-base balance, respiration, and calcium solubilization from the eggshell for bone mineralization. The CAM is a valuable in vivo model in cancer research for developme...

The importance of egg natural defences to prevent bacterial contamination and their relation with hen age in extended production cycles were evaluated. Egg-white from eggs of different hen age groups (up 100-weeks-old) and lines (Hy-Line white and brown) were inoculated with Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus or Gram-negative Salmonella Typhimuriu...

The chicken eggshell (ES) consists of 95% calcium carbonate and 3.5% organic matter, and represents the first physical barrier to protect the developing embryo, while preventing water loss. During the second half of development, calcium ions from the inner ES are progressively solubilized to support mineralization of the embryonic skeleton. This pr...

Cleidoic eggs possess very efficient and orchestrated systems to protect the embryo from external microbes until hatch. The cuticle is a proteinaceous layer on the shell surface in many bird and some reptile species. An intact cuticle forms a pore plug to occlude respiratory pores and is an effective physical and chemical barrier against microbial...

Chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) is a highly insoluble structure that is greatly stabilized by extensive desmosine, isodesmosine, and disulfide cross-linkages. The ESM possesses numerous biological functions including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities. The ESM is mainly proteinaceous; proteomics and bioinfor...

The avian egg is a giant reproductive cell protected by an eggshell, which biomineralizes in the uterus, in an acellular fluid that contains ionic and organic precursors. The distinctive features of the eggshell, as compared to bone or teeth, are its mineral composition (CaCO3 in the form of calcite) and the absence of cell-directed assembly during...

During chicken embryonic development, skeleton calcification mainly relies on the eggshell, whose minerals are progressively solubilized and transported to the embryo via the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). However, the molecular components involved in this process remain undefined. We assessed eggshell demineralization and calcification of the emb...

The bacterial load on the eggshell surface is a key factor in predicting the bacterial penetration and contamination of the egg interior. The eggshell cuticle is the first line of defense against vertical penetration by microbial food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella Enteritidis. Egg producers are increasingly introducing alternative caging syste...

Domestic ducks are raised for meat, eggs and feather down, and almost all varieties are descended from the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Here, we report chromosome-level high-quality genome assemblies for meat and laying duck breeds, and the Mallard. Our new genomic databases contain annotations for thousands of new protein-coding genes and recover...

The eggshell membrane (ESM), mainly composed of collagen-like proteins, is readily available as a waste product of the egg industry. As a novel biomaterial, ESM is attractive for its applications in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields. This review provides the main information about the structure and chemical composition of the E...

The remarkable reproductive success of avian species relies upon the integrated defensive features of the eggshell, acellular membranes, physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial molecules. These egg structures are dramatically modified during embryonic development: solubilization of internal eggshell components, disintegration of acellular...

The eggshell (ES) provides protection against pathogenic and physical insults while supplying essential metabolic and nutritional needs for the growing avian embryo. It is constituted mainly of calcium carbonate arranged as calcite crystals. The global chicken egg production in 2018 was over 76.7 million metric tons. In industrialized countries, ab...

A novel bacterium ( Rouxiella badensis subsp. acadiensis ) isolated from the microbiota of wild blueberry fruit was investigated for its immunomodulation capabilities and intestinal morpho-functional aspects. The whole-genome shotgun sequencing of this bacterium led to its new taxonomy and showed absence of pathogenicity genes. Although the bacteri...

The avian eggshell is a remarkable biomineral, which is essential for avian reproduction; its properties permit embryonic development in the desiccating terrestrial environment, and moreover, are critically important to preserve unfertilized egg quality for human consumption. This calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bioceramic is made of 95% calcite and 3.5%...

The chicken egg is a well-known complete food of human daily consumption which serves as a cost-effective, high-quality nutrient resource. About 30% of table eggs are directed to breaker plants in developed countries, leading to the generation of substantial eggshell (ES) waste, which is increasingly explored for potential value-added applications....

Booklet of abstracts for Le Studium symposium "innate immunity in a biominelralized context: trade-off or synergies", organized by M. Hincke and S. Réhault-Godbert

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background The avian eggshell is a natural protective envelope that relies on the phenomenon of biomineralization for its formation. The shell is made of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite, which contains hundreds of proteins that interact with the mineral phase controlling its formation and structural organization, and thus determine the mec...

The eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural bioactive material, which is increasingly utilized for various biomedical applications. However, the poor solubility of ESM limits the bioavailability of its constituents and reduces the expression of their potential bioactivity. In this study, we utilized an innovative green strategy to separate ESM from sh...

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is an unstable mineral phase, which is progressively transformed into aragonite or calcite in biomineralization of marine invertebrate shells or avian eggshells, respectively. We have previously proposed a model of vesicular transport to provide stabilized ACC in chicken uterine fluid where eggshell mineralization...

Seaweeds comprise ca. 12,000 species. Global annual harvest is ca. 30.13 million metric tonnes, (valued ca. $11.7 billion USD in 2016) for various commercial applications. The growing scope of seaweed-based applications in food, agricultural fertilizers, animal feed additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care is expected to boost market...

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is an unstable mineral phase, which is progressively transformed into aragonite or calcite in biomineralization of marine invertebrate shells or avian eggshells, respectively. We have previously proposed a model of vesicular transport to provide stabilized ACC in chicken uterine fluid where mineralization takes pla...

Duck egg quality improvement is an essential target for Asian poultry breeding. In total, 15 RNA-Seq libraries (magnum, isthmus, and uterus at two different physiological states) were sequenced from 48 weeks old Pekin ducks. De novo assembly and annotation methods were utilized to generate new reference transcripts. Our results revealed that 1264 a...

An increasing concern for natural resources preservation and environmental safety is the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. It is essential to develop simple procedures that use ecofriendly materials with high removal capacities. In this context, we have synthesized a new hybrid material in which eggshell membranes (ESMs) act as nucle...

The Guinea fowl eggshell is a bioceramic material with the remarkable mechanical property of being twice as strong as the chicken eggshell. Both eggshells are composed of 95% calcite and 3.5% organic matrix, which control its structural organization. Chicken eggshell is made of columnar calcite crystals arranged vertically. In the Guinea fowl, the...

Eggshell (ES) and eggshell membrane (ESM) is a significant byproduct of the egg producing industry (Ahmed et al., 2019). Many studies have been undertaken to utilize ES waste for potential value added applications (Cordeiro and Hincke, 2011). Described here are the datasets from our evaluation of processed eggshell membrane powder (PEP) as a wound...

The avian eggshell is a critical physical barrier, which permits extra-uterine development of the embryo. Its formation involves the fastest known biomineralisation process in vertebrates. The eggshell consists of proteins and proteoglycans that interact with the mineral phase to impart its specific microstructure and mechanical properties. In this...

Often described as ‘nature’s perfect food’, perceptions of egg consumption and human health have evolved substantially over the past decades, in particular dietary guidelines no longer include a limit for dietary cholesterol and recommend eggs as part of healthy eating patterns. This book presents the opportunities for processing eggs to produce va...

The avian egg is a valuable model for the calcitic biomineralization process as it is the fastest calcification process occurring in nature and is a clear example of biomineralization. In this study, we used iTRAQ MS/MS to detect and study for the first time: 1) the overall duck eggshell proteome; 2) regional differences in the proteome between the...

The avian embryo develops within a specialized biological container (eggshell) that contains crucial nutritional compartments (albumen, yolk). We analyzed the transcriptome of ovary and three segments of oviduct, including magnum, isthmus and uterus in the chicken during egg formation. RNA-Seq libraries (42 in total) for ovary and three different p...

The integrated innate immune features of the calcareous egg and its contents are a critical underpinning of the remarkable evolutionary success of the Aves clade. Beginning at the time of laying, the initial protective structures of the egg, i.e., the biomineralized eggshell, egg-white antimicrobial peptides, and vitelline membrane, are rapidly and...

Non-healing wounds are a major health problem worldwide and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Effective treatments for acute and chronic skin wounds are the focus of intensive research. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural proteinaceous by-product of the food industry and is suitable for biomedical applications. The objective of this...

Avian eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural biomaterial that has been used as an alternative natural bandage to cure wounds, and is available in large quantities from egg industries. We have previously demonstrated that processed eggshell membrane powder (PEP), aiming to be used in a low cost wound healing product, possesses anti-inflammatory proper...

Effect of PEP on fibroblast proliferation. Fibroblasts incubated with 0.5 mg/ml PEP at different time points (1, 3, 6, 10 days). The data is presented as the average of three independent cell experiments seeded out in triplicates ± SEM. Asterisks indicate significant differences (**p<0.01 by unpaired two-tailed t-test in treated cells normalized wi...

Avian (and formerly dinosaur) eggshells form a hard, protective biomineralized chamber for embryonic growth-an evolutionary strategy that has existed for hundreds of millions of years. We show in the calcitic chicken eggshell how the mineral and organic phases organize hierarchically across different length scales and how variation in nanostructure...

Modern medicine is challenged continuously by the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Cationic antimicrobial peptides and their derivatives are interesting potential alternatives to antibiotics due to their rapid action, broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity and limited emergence of bacterial resistance. This study reports th...

Food safety of table eggs is vital since many pathogens can contaminate the unfertilized egg, leading to increased risk of foodborne illness for consumers. The eggshell cuticle is the first line of defense to restrict the entry of egg-associated pathogens, such as Salmonella Enteritidis. The thickness and completeness of coverage of the cuticle lay...

Recent proteomics analyses of egg compartments, coupled with transcriptomic approaches to gene expression patterns in different oviduct segments, have provided an increasing awareness of the diversity of antimicrobial molecules present in the chicken egg. This review presents an overview of the distribution of antimicrobial molecules that have been...

Microbiology and Food Safety

Staphylococcus aureus, a human pathogen associated with many illnesses and post-surgical infections, can resist treatment due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and through biofilm formation. The current treatments for chronic biofilm infections are antibiotics and/or surgical removal of the contaminated medical device. Due to higher...