Reference: AGL2009-0732; Subcontracted by UAB and Funded by:
Period: 01/01/2011-30/04/2011
Partners: Fundació Privada Institut Català de Nanotecnologia (ICN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Summary:
In the modern pig production systems piglets are usually weaned at 21-28 days old, with a light and variable initial body weight. The consequence of this early weaning is a high risk of suffering diarrhoea and a high animal variability during the whole growing period, which make more difficult the final commercialization. Postweaning collibacilosis is likely the main cause of diarrhoea in the young piglet. The first step in the pathogenia of diarrhoea is the presence and attachment of Escherichia coli to the intestinal mucosa. However, it is also important the simultaneous presence of environmental or dietary factors which predispose to an increase in the stress and the inflammatory response of the animals. In the present project we aim to evaluate feeding strategies to facilitate the adaptation of piglets after weaning by modifying the mineral nutrition, and to study the way to block the attachment of pathogenic bacteria and virus to the intestinal mucosa using substrates of similar composition to the known intestinal receptors. Our hypothesis in relation to the mineral nutrition are that: i.- Zn may act as antimicrobial at high doses but it is also a nutrient involved on the immune response, which can be supplied at lower doses of organic mineral, and ii.- feeding low Ca diets my help the digestive adaptation of piglets after weaning. On the other hand, our hypothesis in relation to the blockage of intestinal pathogens is that: iii.- it is possible to block the attachment of E. coli and coronavirus to the intestinal mucosa in vitro by using natural or de novo synthesised compounds with a high content of galactose and sialic acid; and that iv.- their distribution in the surface of nanoparticles may increase their blocking activity.