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A Window of Opportunity

其他書名	Modulation of the Porcine Gut Microbiota and Immune System by Feed Additives in Early Life
出版	Wageningen University, 2021
ISBN	94639596379789463959636
URL	http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=Rp_TzgEACAAJ&hl=&source=gbs_api

註釋In early life and around weaning piglets are susceptible to infection due to abrupt dietary, social and environmental changes that may directly or indirectly impact gut health and animal performance. In the past, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) were intensively used in the livestock industry to prevent the development of gastro-intestinal disorders and to optimise animal performance. However, because of the worldwide concern on the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, the use of in-feed AGPs has been banned in the European Union since 2006. As a result, sustainable alternatives to in-feed AGPs that promote animal health and performance received great interest. In the last few decades, researchers have been studying the effects of several promising microbial and non-microbial nutritional factors for pigs. Pre- and probiotics, for example, have been shown to influence the porcine gut microbiota, improve gut epithelial barrier function and modulate the immune system. It is evident that these complex systems are inherently linked to each other and are important determinants of health and disease. However, dietary interventions are mostly administered post-weaning. During this period, feed additives are less likely to exert strong effects because of the with age increasing resilience of the gut microbiota to (dietary) perturbations. In order to induce transient and/or long-lasting changes, we hypothesized that early life serves as a ‘window of opportunity’ to modulate the gut microbiota, the gut epithelial barrier, and the immune system with the aim to make pigs more resilient to infections during the weaning period and later in life.