3. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PROSPECTIVES
APEC’s diverse virulence factors interact to cause systemic infections
in poultry, necessitating a comprehensive strategy that targets iron
acquisition, quorum sensing, bacterial metabolism, and secretion systems
for effective therapeutic development. APEC strains, especially ST95,
ST131, and serogroups O1, O2, and O18, pose a risk of extra-intestinal
infections in humans. With rising antibiotic resistance and the
potential for transmission of resistant bacteria and genes to humans,
developing antibacterials for animals that avoid cross-resistance with
existing antibiotics is essential. An effective APEC vaccine offering
cross-protection against multiple serotypes is also needed, and insights
into APEC’s virulence should guide the identification of new vaccine
candidates. Additionally, alternative therapies, such as small molecule
inhibitors and antimicrobial peptides targeting novel pathways, should
be explored to control colibacillosis in poultry.