FP6 priority

1.1.5   Food Quality and Safety

Title of the proposal

Functional feed ingredients for animals

Institute

Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology
Soltesovej 4, 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic

Contact

Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Our present research is orientated on the metabolism of selenium in the farm animals, mainly in the poultry and on its impact on the health and immunity development in young chicks. This topic is closely related to the problems suggested for searched research.The final cancellation of the massive supplementation of chicken feed with antibiotics in Europe is only a question of short time due to unacceptable rising in the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. On the base of our previous results, one of the most promising replacements of antibiotics appear to be bacteriocins, the natural substances with antimicrobial activity which are produced by certain bacteria. The sudden break in the antibiotics intake will mean also an extremely strong attack on the immune systems of chicken. Recent research showed the positive effects of Se on the development of immunity in animals and people too. Our contribution can involve: using of bacteriocin producing enterococci with probiotic character grown on selenium enriched medium as feed ingredients against contaminants of digestive tract of poultry; concomitant investigation of the effects of such nutritional supplements of Se on the development of immunity in chicks (flowcytometry, immunohistochemistry); the metabolism of Se in chicks; the formation of Se-deposits in the broilers body also in the relation to the transfer of this essential microelement through the food chain to people. The very low intake of Se by people population and relevant health problems are well established in many parts of Europe.

Recent international cooperation of the research team

The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jablonna near Warsaw, Poland.
Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Uhrineves, Prague, Czech republic

Proposer´s relevant publications related to the research subject

Leng, L., Boldizarova, K., Faix, S., Kovac, G.: The urinary excretion of selenium in sheep treated with a vasopressin analogue. Vet. Res., 31, 2000, 499-505.
Laukova, A., Czikkova, S.,Vasilkova, Z., Juris, P. Marekova, M.: Occurence of bacteriocin production among enviromental enterococci. Lett. Appl. Micriobiol., 27, 1998, 178-182
Cekonova, S., Boldizarova, K., Gresakova, L., Sevcikova, Z., Revajova, V., Levkut, M., Leng, L.: Effects of the amount and forms of selenium in feed on the development of blood glutathione peroxidase in growing chicks. The Proceedings of XIX. Days of Animal Physiology, September 27-28, 2001, p. 41