Nutriad has demonstrated the use of Quorum Sensing (QS) as a tool in the development of new feed additives for livestock and aquaculture application.
QS is a bacterial signaling process that is critical for several biochemical responses, including the production of several virulence factors.
Molecules that inhibit QS have the potential to fight pathogens by decreasing their virulence rather than killing them directly. QS, as a potential tool to combat humans diseases, is currently being investigated while research on pathogens relevant to animal production is also expanding.
According to Nutriad, reducing QS in the gastro-intestinal tract is a unique approach to control gut microbial activity and composition, and the potential for QS-inhibition as a means of improving animal health has been reported in research papers.
Furthermore, the probability that bacteria will build up resistance against these products is low due to the fact that phytochemicals can disrupt distinct QS signal transduction steps (e.g. production, secretion and uptake of signaling molecules; binding to the specific receptors; modification of signal transducing proteins; and activation of DNA by transcription factors), thereby reducing chances of a single mutation rendering the bacteria resistant.
In addition, the selective pressure for molecules that only suppress bacterial functions is much lower as it does not affect bacterial growth and viability.
Nutriad started a research programme in 2011, which investigated the ability of several highly bioactive compounds to inhibit QS.
Using QS, Nutriad has been able to select components that could abolished QS signaling in-vitro significantly at very low concentrations. The combination is based on a list of botanicals with known beneficial effects on animal performance
These mixtures also had a positive effect at sub- MIC concentrations on the viability of microbial-challenged organisms in two in-vivo models, Vibrio and C. elegans.
In subsequent field trials, the botanical mixtures improved health and performance in poultry and aquaculture species, thus highlighting the potential of QS to be used as a tool to select specific botanical ingredients.
The importance of QS in production animals is currently not fully understood and several pitfalls and possible advantages of inhibiting QS remain to be investigated.
However, Nutriad believes that, in order to increase the chance of selecting the highest performing bioactive components in-vivo, it is vitally important that the effect that these substances can exert at low concentrations are explored.
Tim Goossens (Phd), of Nutriad, said that an example of a test, with which sub-MIC effects of bioactive components can be studied, is Quorum Sensing.
"When selecting ingredients that affect gut bacteria, such as botanical components, feed additive producers often rely on in-vitro experiments that demonstrate their bacteriostatic effect", Goossens explained.
"However, the active ingredients of these botanicals will end up in the digestive tract of production animals at concentrations far below the minimal concentration needed to inhibit growth of (pathogenic) bacteria. A more reliable approach might be to select feed additive ingredients based on the effects botanical (and other) components can have at much lower concentrations that are more likely to be relevant to gut health improvement."
Said Erik Visser, the CEO of Nutriad: "Gut health is one of several factors important to obtaining optimum efficiency and profitability in livestock and aquaculture production".
"We see increasing evidence of the central role played by gut microbiota in animal health and disease. Our technical staff therefore works closely together with leading universities around the world to improve our feed additives portfolio aimed at supporting gut health."
