報告題目：The gut microbiota of weaning piglets - how the limitation of iron could lessen farmers dependence on zinc oxide

報告人：Dr. Chloe Callow

報告時間：2024年5月30，周四15：00-16:00

報告地點：34號樓生物工程學院1318會議室

報告人及內容簡介：

Chloe obtained a first-class BSc (hons) in Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich in 2020. During her undergraduate degree she took a special interest in microbial genomics and molecular biology, choosing to further her experience in research by conducting a MSc by research at UEA on the enteric foodborne pathogen, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium. Her year-long research project investigated the correlation of tellurite and nitric oxide resistance by looking at specific envelope stress response gene clusters and the phenotypic consequences of deleting particular associated genes. She graduated in 2022 with her MSc by research degree and this course inspired her to undertake a PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading. Her PhD project is sponsored by Food Bio Systems Doctoral Training Partnership. Her research concerns the gut microbiota and immune development of weaning piglets, particularly looking at the role of the micronutrient, iron. Chloe has a passion for science communication, education and outreach and has just completed a recent placement with the National Centre for Biotechnology Education based in Reading. Through this, she developed two projects that formed activities for students aged 16-18 to encourage studying food science at degree level.

The gut microbiota in piglets alters significantly during weaning. Subsequent increases in enteric pathogens and other factors contribute to the multifactorial disease of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). This disease is the primary welfare and economic concern in pig farming. Current EU legislation is phasing out the antimicrobial, zinc oxide (ZnO) used to reduce PWD. Piglets receive an intramuscular iron injection at birth and high dietary iron at weaning to reduce their susceptibility to iron-deficiency anaemia. Pathogenic bacteria have elevated iron requirements, and the sudden abundance of luminal iron enhances vulnerability to PWD. However, as piglets are not anaemic at weaning, we hypothesised that dietary iron could be reduced around weaning with minimal consequences and successfully reduce incidence of PWD.

生物工程學院  國際教育學院
2024年5月29日