PARTNER SEARCH
7TH. EU FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION (2007-2013)
PARTNER is looking for a Project
1.) PARTNER OFFERED
Organisation
Contact person
Email
Telephone
IRTA
Institute for Food and Agricultural
Research and Technology
Magdalena Ramírez
Anna Arís
Magdalena.ramirez@irta.es
Anna.aris@irta.es
Type of organisation (IND,
SME, RES, HE, others)
Magdale Ramirez: (+34) 934674064
Anna Aris: (+34) 93864350
Postcode, city
Country
Spain
Website
www.irta.es
Role in desired project
Expertise offered and what I
would like to do
technology
development :
dissemination :
research : X
training :
demonstration :
other :
The gastrointestinal tract of adult mammals is colonized by a
complex and dynamic community of microorganisms. The
commensal microbiota plays an important role in the health
status of the animal host due to its involvement in nutritional,
immunologic and physiological functions. However, the
knowledge of the molecular and cellular bases of host-microbe
recognition and interaction is very limited in ruminant animals
like cattle. This beneficial and established microbiota
participates on the host native mucosal immune system by
conferring resistance to colonization of potentially pathogenic
bacteria trough receptor competition, nutrient limitation in the
gastrointestinal tract or secretion of antimicrobial toxins. It
also has a role in the development of the intestinal immune
system, both in terms of gut-associated lymphoid tissue
development and induction of the oral tolerance (active
process of systemic unresponsiveness to commensal bacteria
and food proteins to avoid chronic inflammation of the
gastrointestinal tract). Young animals need time to develop
both a complex bacterial community and their mature
gastrointestinal tract immune system and for this reason they
are specially vulnerable to the presence of potential
pathogens. The study of the colonizing microflora and the
regulation of its composition by the use of prebiotics,
probiotics and also by early-diet, offers the possibility to
influence the development or maturation of the mucosal and
systemic immunity at particular stressful times for the host,
like birth or weaning.
Moreover, unbalances in the composition of the intestinal
microbiota could lead to digestive disorders and risk of
microbial infections, which are the predominant cause of
mortality and therefore dramatically economic losses in the
animal industry. For instance, ruminal acidosis is a very
common digestive disorder in beef cattle and can lead to
marked reductions in cattle performance. There is an increase
in the accumulation of organic acids in the rumen reflecting
the imbalance between microbial production, microbial
utilization
and ruminal absorption of organic acids. Reduced ruminal
efficiency, liver and lung abscesses, and laminitis are all
thought to be related to subacute ruminal acidosis. The
determination of microbial changes in acute and subacute
acidosis would allow to minimize the risk of acidosis in feedlot
cattle receiving high concentrate diets by direct microbial
feeding or by changing some nutritional factors.
Other important issue in the gastrointestinal microbiota study
is the intestinal functions that are shaped by components of
the microflora. Little is known about this topic but a few
human studies provide accurate in vivo characterization of
transcriptional responses to colonization with a prototypic gut
commensal. The results reveal that commensals are able to
modulate expression of host genes that participate in diverse
and fundamental physiological functions. Valuable
information can be used from these human studies and
contribute to the development of hypotheses to be validated in
ruminant livestock.
The research activity of the Ruminant Unit of IRTA based on
ruminant systems, production, metabolism and behaviour
combined with the technical experience of some of their
researchers on microbiology and molecular biology makes
possible the study of the structural and functional complexity
of the microbiota in relation with the health and welfare of the
ruminant livestock.
I am familiar with the European Framework Programme :
YES
X
NO
2.) COORDINATOR / PROJECT sought after (for proposal submission only)
KBBE-2008-1-3-01: Improving production animal health and food safety through investigating the
gut physiology of farm animals, the gastro-intestinal microflora and their interactions
Project type
Large scale integrating collaborative
project
Small or medium-scale focussed
research project
Collaborative projects targeted to SMEs
CA or SSA
X
Network of Excellence
Keywords of project:
I AGREE WITH THE PUBLICATION OF MY DATA
PLEASE FILL IN THE PROFILE FORM AND RETURN IT TO: magdalena.ramirez@irta.es