"Previous microbiome associations have been linked in humans to obesity, autoimmune and infectious diseases, immune response and cancer," Niederwerder said. "Detailed investigations into understanding how the gastrointestinal microbiome impacts health and disease in animals are increasing. In our work, we have looked at microbiome diversity and composition in nursery pigs in association with clinical disease and growth performance after virus infection."
The viral infections Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2 have caused billions of dollars in losses to swine producers over the last 25 years.
"We looked at nursery pigs with systemic viral infections and found that increased diversity of the microbiome and the presence of specific bacteria, such as nonpathogenic E. coli, were associated with improved outcome," Niederwerder said. "Greater diversity of the microbiome seems to lead to a better response to infection for swine. Our ultimate goal would be to develop ways in the future to modulate the microbiome and improve response to virus infection."
Co-authors on the study included Bob Rowland, virologist and professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and Giselle Cino-Ozuna, clinical assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, from Kansas State University; and Crystal Jaing, Kevin McLoughlin and James Thissen from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Source: AASV