E.coli study wins Rosell Probiotic Challenge

19-11-2008 | |

Jean-François Daudelin received the first prize of the Rosell Probiotic Challenge for his study concerning the effects of Bactocell® and Levucell® SB administration on F4+ enterotoxigenic E. coli infection in piglets post-weaning. The young scientist had the opportunity to give a presentation of his study during the 5th International Symposium on Probiotics ”Cross Talk Now!” organised by INITIA in Quebec City, November 6-7th.

A Second Prize was awarded to Stéphanie-Anne Girard for her work on the potential of probiotics on mechanisms involved in post-myocardial infarction depression. Today, probiotics are gaining momentum in animal and human health and nutrition, and this is linked to the strong and growing body of evidence of their efficacy and modes of action.

Both winning entries of this year’s Rosell Probiotic Challenge were mechanistic studies in different fields of applications. Rosell Probiotic Challenge is organised by Institut Rosell- Lallemand, part of Lallemand’s Human Health and Nutrition Division.

Daudelin’s project looked into the modes of action of probiotics in preventing F4+ enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) infection in piglets post-weaning. It appears that the administration from birth of P. acidilactici (Bactocell) in combination with S. boulardii (Levucell SB) limits the attachment of the pathogen to the gut mucosa, a key step of ETEC infectiveness.

Probiotics also stimulate the synthesis of compounds implicated in the body’s defence against the pathogen, Interleukin-6 and ß-defensin 2. Moreover, the administration of Bactocell alone tends to reduce the clinical signs of diarrhoea in piglets challenged with ETEC. It as concluded that the use of Bactocell, either alone or in combination with Levucell SB, was a promising alternative in the prevention of F4+ enterotoxigenic E. coli infection in piglets.

Piglets diarrhoea post-weaning is an important financial burden for pig farmers, with F4+ enterotoxigenic E. coli a major cause of infection. Antibiotics are used as both a preventive and therapeutic measure. The massive use of antibiotics in animal production has been implicated in the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens, a growing public health concern. For this reason, certain regulatory bodies such as the European Commission have banned their continuous use in animal feed, and the search for natural alternatives is an important strategy.

Open to university students in North and South America, Rosell’s Probiotic Challenge aims to encourage awareness and education regarding probiotics, in the continuation of Institut Rosell founders’ commitment to pioneer and promote probiotic applications. Young researchers were assessed by a scientific jury for the quality of their works.

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