Use of IgY to reduce methane emission from rumen archaea

The IGYMERA proposal is aimed at exploring novel strategies to reduce methane production in ruminants. Our innovative proposal differs from other past strategies.

Instead of using whole archaea for the development of antibodies, we will raise low-cost, specific and non-toxic IgY polyclonal antibodies against the key membrane targets responsible for methane production, or for their ability to produce a significant reduction in methanogenic microorganism populations in the rumen.

To identify such targets, we plan to use state-of-the-art proteomic tools and molecular cloning techniques for the production of recombinant proteins to be used for hen immunization.

We also plan to test an early intervention approach in the rumen of small ruminants (goats), to enhance the reduction in their microbial methanogen population during adult life.