Browsing by Person "Sarpong, Naomi"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Unveiling the interplay between gut microbiota and protein for sustainable pig production
(2024) Sarpong, Naomi; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia
Recent forecasts predict a rise in global pork consumption due to increased incomes and population growth. Intensive pig production is frequently linked with environmental pollution, wherein nitrogen (N) emissions are a significant contributor. A growing pig retains only around 30% of the ingested N, while the remainder is excreted via urine and feces. nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) indicates the percentage of ingested N retained by the pig, and its maximization is crucial for sustainable pig production. This work investigates the gut microbiome’s role in protein utilization in fattening pigs with defined family structure. In the initial phase, 508 pigs were kept under standardized conditions and fed in a two-phase feeding regime with marginal lysine supply (90% of supply recommendation). In each phase, a sample period (SP) was conducted (body weight (BW): SP 1 = 40.5 kg, SP 2 = 60.3 kg), where a fecal sample was collected from each pig. These samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing and volatile fatty acid (VFA) determination. Results showed the influence of sire, SP and sex on fecal microbiota composition. In each SP, samples were divided into two groups based on <25%- and >75%-quantile of NUE, and in SP 1, differences in the microbial composition were observed between pigs with high and low predisposition for NUE. LinDA model identified Streptococcus as a potential biomarker for NUE in SP 1. The offspring of some sires were either entirely absent or unevenly represented in the groups, highlighting a genetic predisposition to NUE. All samples (n = 892) were grouped into two enterotype-like clusters named by the highest taxon weights in cluster Lactobacillus and cluster Clostridium sensu stricto. Pigs' affiliation with enterotype-like clusters altered over time and might be sex-dependent. No differences were observed for the BW and gain to feed ratio between the subgroups of enterotype-like clusters. Pigs in the stable cluster Clostridium sensu stricto, characterized by higher NUE but lower dry matter intake, align with goals for sustainable pig production. This cluster also showed the highest VFA concentrations, suggesting enterotype-specific metabolic efficiencies. The second part of the study focused on the intestinal microbiome, analyzing digesta and mucosa samples from 48 euthanized pigs. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the entire gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome of pigs, including mucosa and digesta samples, investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome shotgun (WGS) metagenomic sequencing. Several differences regarding microbial diversity and composition were observed between GIT sections and sample types. Streptococcus was a predominant genus in the digesta and mucosa of the small intestine, and novel insights into the stomach’s microbial community were uncovered. WGS metagenomic sequencing of the digesta samples revealed functional shifts along the GIT, with specific metabolic pathways related to “Amino acid metabolism” and “Metabolism of other amino acids”, being differentially abundant in the duodenum, indicating an anabolic contribution to protein metabolism. These results offer a deeper knowledge of the microbial community in the digesta and mucosa across different GIT sections and its contribution to nutrient metabolism. The categorization of samples into enterotype-like clusters, and their correlation with microbial composition in digesta samples indicates a possible link between enterotype-like clusters and gastrointestinal microbial composition. This work explores the microbiome's impact on the complex interactions between gut microbiota and protein utilization but also provides a foundation for developing subsequent strategies to improve sustainability in pig production.