Microbiome and immunology course

Objective: Introduction in GIT ecology (microbiology, immunology, and host–pathogen interaction) and its influence on health and disease in young animals

Duration: 5 days

Lectures:

  • Analytical tools in gut microbiology and immunology;
  • definition of gut health;
  • microbiota of pigs – What do we know and what do we aim at?;
  • strategies for immunological defence of the GIT;
  • evolution of immunological memory and the pig as a model for humans;
  • gut microbiota in swine: composition, genetic parameters, and links with immunity and production traits;
  • early-life nutrition – impact on gut function and immunity.
Practical training:
  • Techniques for sampling and handling of porcine gut intestinal content;
  • isolation and growth of gut bacteria;
  • physiological and molecular characterisation of selected gut bacteria;
  • analysis of microbial metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, gaseous compounds);
  • genotypic characterisation of the gut microbiota;
  • in vitro systems for studying gut biology (e.g. gut epithelium cell lines; isolation and characterisation of immune cells, including phenotyping by flow cytometry;
  • enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay.
Tutors:
HØJBERG[AU], DALGAARD[AU], CANIBE[AU], LAURIDSEN [AU], GARDINER [WIT], invited lectures from TREVISI [UNIBO].

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