Microbial communication networks governing the ecosystem dynamics of Salmonella in poultry environments: ecological interactions, colonization resistance, and emerging control strategies

Salmonella remains one of the leading foodborne pathogens associated with poultry, posing significant challenges to animal health, food safety, and public health worldwide. Conventional control strategies have largely focused on pathogen elimination through antimicrobials, biosecurity, and vaccination; however, increasing evidence suggests that Salmonella persistence is strongly influenced by interactions within complex microbial ecosystems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how microbial communication networks regulate the colonization, persistence, and transmission of Salmonella throughout poultry production systems. Particular emphasis is placed on quorum sensing, metabolic cross-feeding, competitive exclusion, interkingdom signaling, biofilm-associated interactions, and ecological communication occurring within the gut, litter, water systems, and other environmental reservoirs. Recent studies demonstrate that microbial community structure and function influence pathogen behavior through coordinated signaling pathways and indirect ecological interactions that collectively determine colonization resistance and ecosystem resilience. Emerging microbiome engineering approaches, including defined microbial consortia, prebiotics, probiotics, quorum-sensing inhibitors, and ecological network manipulation, offer promising alternatives to conventional pathogen-directed interventions. Integrating microbial ecology with multi-omics technologies and systems biology is expected to facilitate precision microbiome-based strategies for sustainable Salmonella control. Viewing Salmonella as a participant in interconnected microbial communication networks rather than an isolated pathogen provides a conceptual framework for developing innovative interventions that improve poultry health, enhance food safety, and support One Health objectives.