Work package 2.1 (Cancelled)

Hypothesis: Newborn immune-compromised (germ-free) pigs are hyper-sensitive to infections.

Germ-free birth, diet, probiotics and immune development

The first exposure to microbes is important for immune development, gut and brain maturation. The immuno-compromized state of germ-free animals can be used to test colonization-dependent effects of immune-modulatory diets and probiotics. We use germfree rearing as an experimental tool.

Methods

Germ-free newborn pigs are transferred sterile to germfree isolators and fed sterile diets, and responses are compared with those in conventional pigs. A series of structural, functional, microbiological and immunological parameters of the developing immune system, gut and brain are investigated.

Results

We will know whether gut bacterial colonization affects early life development. Endpoints include immunological parameters (whole blood endotoxin-stimulated cytokine release, goblet/leucocyte cell counts, mucus production, tissue cytokine protein and mRNA), gut parameters (enzymes, cell cycle, histology, nutrient absorption, gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids) and brain parameters (morphology, glial cell phenotype and density, cytokine production, BDNF, functional cognition tests).