Bioactive polyphenolic compounds from brown macroalgae: A mechanistic study on pig gut health promoting effects (BioAlgae)

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.