WP3: Health challenges

Objectives

Establish efficacy of the “best” nutritional/supplemental strategy determined in WP1 and WP2 under unfavourable conditions by using established infection/challenge models in pigs and poultry. To achieve this aim, 3 objectives and 5 tasks are defined:

3.1. Use in vivo model for ETEC infection and LPS or weaning challenge to verify efficiency of nutritional/supplemental strategies in pig and broiler production [T 3.1 ,T 3.2 ,T 3.3].

3.2. Use in ovo technology to mitigate environmental antigen and heat stress in poultry production using early programming [T 3.4,T 3.5].

3.3. Identify novel metabolic proxies with key roles in the trade-offs between defense and performance following exposure to GIT nematodes in chickens [T 3.6].

Deliverables

  • D3.1: Detailed characterization of nematode infections, and complete picture of plasma metabolites |

  • D3.2: Antibacterial plant stability and efficacy tested in vitro |

  • D3.3: Novel metabolic proxies with key roles in defence/production parameters of chickens exposed to nematodes are identified |

  • D3.4: Psycho-social stress test at weaning and intestinal mitochondria transcriptome and and citric acid cycle metabolic profile in glutamine-supplemented pigs determined |

  • D3.5: LPS/pathogen challenge or heat stress on physiological and genomic response from in ovo pre- and/or probiotics injected broilers assessed |

  • D3.6: Antibacterial plant stability and efficacy confirmed in vivo |

  • D3.7: Picture of microbiota under pathological conditions |