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UNE’s gut reaction to pioneering research

July 05, 2005

Gut micro 013 (2).jpgUsing diets to modify gut microbes instead of antibiotics to keep livestock healthy is just some of the research being conducted at a special Gut Laboratory just opened at The University of New England.
International scientists Dr Paul Iji and Dr Lene Mikkelsen have been recruited to head the laboratory and a team of five PhD and two MSc students.
Australia’s pioneering Gut Microbiology Laboratory is dedicated to one of science’s fastest-growing research areas, how microbes affect food use in poultry.
Pictured is Professor Peter Flood, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) opening the new laboratory.
Nigerian Dr Iji, a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at UNE, said scientists had previously believed there was little difference between microbes found in non-ruminant animals’ guts and that they had no specific benefit.
“Now, however, we know there are basic differences in microbes found in guts and one must have ‘good’ microbes in their gut to keep healthy,” Dr Iji said.
Microbes are also being seen as a natural alternative to antibiotics put into the feed of poultry to keep them healthy, Dr Iji said.
“Some of the work being carried out in the laboratory is on plant supplements, which may be a preferred alternative to antibiotics in poultry feed,” Dr Iji said.
The laboratory is also looking at how yeast extract and some plant extracts can stimulate the growth of ‘good’ microbes, which then “eat up” bad microbes, especially in poultry and pigs.

Bad microbes, according to Dr Iji, included Clostridia, which mainly affect chickens but which can occasionally infect humans. These, however, can be overcome by developing good microbes, such as Lactobacilli which are naturally found in animals’ guts.
“This laboratory and its work will prove extremely helpful to industry and institutions that may need such services,” Dr Iji said.
The laboratory, which is behind UNE’s McClymont Building, has already developed research links with Adelaide, Queensland and Melbourne Universities, which along with UNE, are members of the Poultry CRC.
Dr Iji came to UNE about five months ago. He taught at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria for 12 years while studying for his postgraduate qualifications. After graduating from Adelaide in 1998, Dr Iji worked in South Africa, first as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Universities of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) and Pretoria, then as Senior Lecturer at the Technikon Free State (now Central University of Technology), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
“My research interests centre on the nutrition and digestive physiology of farm animals,” Dr Iji said.
Dr Lene Mikkelsen, a Research Fellow working closely with Dr Iji, arrived at Armidale nearly a year ago from Denmark. She was previously a Researcher at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Some of the techniques Dr Mikkelsen uses at the new lab include anaerobic microbiology, which is also useful to studies on cattle and sheep. She also uses PCR and16S rRNA gene sequencing to confirm the identity of microbes. The contamination of food and other products can also be analysed through use of non-selective and selective cultivation techniques.
For more information phone Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779

Posted by Lydia Roberts at July 5, 2005 12:00 PM