From 26th to 29th of September 2023 7th international conference on microbial diversity took place in Parma. The title of the conference was “Agrifood microbiota as a tool for a sustainable future”.
In this context, Daniela Leuzzi, PhD student in the biotechnology and pharmacy unit at the University of Bologna, presented this poster on “Search for bacteriocin producing genes in the poultry gut associated microbiome to support antibiotic free production in poultry farm”.
Research Context
The rising need for antibiotic-free meat production, coupled with the concern about the proliferation of antibiotic resistance, is driving the exploration of novel and alternative approaches. This research aims to identify new genetic sources of bacteriocin production and related bacterial species within the animal gut microbiome, specifically for poultry farming to facilitate the transition toward antibiotic-free production processes.
In the context of CIRCLES project, 199 examples of faecal samples were collected in 3 farms with different levels of biosecurity measures and has been analyzed.
Results
Our research has uncovered distinct categories of genes responsible for producing bacteriocins, and we’ve conducted an analysis of how the bacteriocinome evolves over time in farms with varying levels of performance. Two key preliminary findings have emerged from our study:
- Poultry gut microbiomes in more successful production facilities exhibit a unique bacteriocinome structure. Over time, this structure shows an increasing abundance, suggesting that the intrinsic production of bacteriocins plays a crucial role in safeguarding animal health.
- We have identified certain bacterial strains with the potential to produce bacteriocins. This discovery holds promise for the development of novel probiotics, potentially revolutionizing the field of probiotic production.
