SOAT1 and infection: There were 8 KEGG pathways (P < 0.05) have been enriched, including Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Intestinal immune network for IgA production, Salmonella infection, Steroid biosynthesis, Cell adhesion molecules and Jak-STAT signaling pathway (Fig. 6B), which were related to the internal regulation of chicken post-infection with SE.