Project description
Brown macroalgae bioactive compounds to improve pig gut health
Modern pig production relies heavily on in-feed antibiotics, which are banned in Europe, to control post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and improve gut health during weaning. Researchers are investigating bioactive compounds from brown macroalgae, such as phlorotannin (Pt), as a potential alternative. Weaning affects gut health, energy status, gut microbiota (GM), and mucosal integrity in pigs. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BioAlgae project will examine the impact of Pt on enteric pathogens like E. coli, GM, mucosal immunity, and intestinal barrier function. The project aims to determine how these effects can help manage PWD in young pigs. The results are expected to lead to improved productivity in weaned pigs.
Objective
Modern pig production hugely depends on in-feed antibiotics to control postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and improve pig gut health during weaning. However, the use of in-feed antibiotics and zinc oxide (ZnO) has already been banned in Europe prompting an urgent need for alternative solutions. Currently, there is emerging interest in various bioactive compounds from brown macroalgae such as the polyphenolic compound phlorotannin (Pt) as a potential alternative due to their diverse biological activities. Weaning in pig compromises not only short-term gut health or reduces energy status, or alters gut microbiota (GM), but also disrupts mucosal integrity increasing susceptibility to infection and negatively influencing long-term health. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that improving immune status, enhancing intestinal barrier functions, and inhibiting specific harmful microbes using Pt can lead to both short-term favorable GM profile and long-term beneficial impacts on immunity and resistance against infection. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of Pt on the enteric pathogen such as E. coli, GM, mucosal immunity and intestinal barrier function, and how these effects can be utilized to mitigate PWD in weaned pigs. Given my background and my supervisors’ track record in the gut health as well as the use of macroalgae in livestock as alternative to antibiotics, I have firm conviction in the successful achievement of the objectives of this project. The effects of Pt are expected to be reflected in improved pig gut health, reduced mortality and enhanced productivity in weaned pigs. This has huge implications in Europe to fill the vacuum created by the banning of in-feed antibiotics and ZnO. Moreover, this research project can complement the skills gained from my PhD project by filling some of the skill gaps which are important to develop my envisioned career by strengthening my hands-on lab and overall research skills in pig gut health.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8026 BODO
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.