Early Colonizing Bacteria in the GI Tract - Lessons from Poultry and Strategies for Swine - Dr. Tom Rehberger, President, Agro BioSciences, from the 2016 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, September 17-20, 2016, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2016-leman-swine-conference-material
Dr. Tom Rehberger - Early Colonizing Bacteria in the GI Tract - Lessons from Poultry and Strategies for Swine
1. +
Early colonizing bacteria in the GI tract: lessons from
poultry and strategies for swine
Agro BioSciences, Inc
2. Role of GI Colonizing Bacteria
Immune development and immune function
• Early colonizing bacteria play a role in immune development
Critical in-
• acquired immune system (B and T cells)
• innate immune system (mucin chemistry)
• Lactic acid bacteria on the epithelial surface help to develop a competent immune
system
• process surface antigens
• stimulates migration of immune cells to GI tissue
• bind toll-like receptors- quiescence which helps to develop an appropriate
immune response reduce inflammation
Microbial homeostasis
• Microbiota makes up the complex community that acts as barrier to infection
Competitive exclusion
Nutritional processing
• Microbiota processes complex feed ingredients- more readily absorbed
• Processes phytochemicals (polyphenols)- improves function and bioavailability
3. Early Colonizing Bacteria Project
Project Objectives
Phase 1
• Isolate and characterize the early colonizing bacterial communities in turkey poults
and broiler chicks
• Identify the core microbiome and characterize key isolates
Phase 2
• Determine functional role of core microbiome isolates
• Determine if they have potential in preventing disease and improving performance
4. CLINICAL
SUBCLINICAL
A Bird’s Life – Early Stage
0
Broilers and Turkeys
Brood
Hatchery
Immune Development
Gastrointestinal Development
Microbiological Challenges
• Pathogenic E. coli
• Toxigenic Clostridium
Initial gut health
Microbiological Challenges
Clostridium – necrotic enteritis
Ammonia
Vertical Transmission
of Pathogens
5. GI tracts
a
b
c…j
10 birds/flock
Extract
gDNA
Isolate predominant
bacterial types (MRS, Chrom agar)
Isolate gDNA- 5 isolates/bird
Perform TRFLP
Perform RAPDs
Early Colonizing Bacteria- poultry
Create
dendrograms
Product Development
16s DNA seq
Identify predominant genotypes
Serve as a baseline for perturbations
6. Hen GI Microbiology
Breeder flock# and bird
• All birds had detectable (>100 cfu/g) lactic acid bacterial populations
• 16 of the 18 birds had LAB populations > 1 x 106 cfu/g
LAB Plate Counts- Complex 1
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1.00E+08
1.00E+09
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Flock# 2 Flock# 36 Flock# 72 Flock# 80 Flock# 84 Flock# 94
8. Hen GI Microbiology
Breeder flock and bird
• All birds had detectable lactic acid bacterial populations >100 cfu/g
• All birds had LAB populations > 1 x 106 cfu/g
LAB Plate Counts- Complex 2
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1.00E+08
1.00E+09
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Little Capon Farm- 25
wks
Jeanetta Kesner- 28
wks
Mary Barb- 35 wks Victor Carr- 39 wks Eleanor Keplinger- 59
wks
Brent Hartzler- 61 wks
Samples not plated
9. Day-of Hatch GI Microbiology
Breeder flock and bird
• Only 12 of the 60 (20%) birds had detectable lactic acid bacterial populations >100 cfu/g
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9
Smith Farm -house 1,2 Harterman Mary Barb- 35 wks Victor Carr- 39 wks Eleanor Keplinger- 59
wks
Brent Hartzler- 61 wks
LAB Plate Counts- Complex 2
10. APEC GI Microbiology
• Not all trends match but potential transfer of the APEC populations from hen to day-of hatch
APEC Counts- Complex 1
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Flock# 2 Flock# 36 Flock# 72 Flock# 80 Flock# 84 Flock# 94
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Flock #2 Flock #36 Flock #72 Flock #80 Flock #84 Flock #94
Hens
Day-of Hatch
11. APEC GI Microbiology
• No apparent transfer of the APEC populations from hen to day-of hatch
APEC Counts- Complex 2
Hens
Day-of Hatch
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.00E+06
1.00E+07
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Little Capon Farm- 25 wks Jeanetta Kesner- 28 wks Mary Barb- 35 wks Victor Carr- 39 wks Eleanor Keplinger- 59 wks Brent Hartzler- 61 wks
1.00E+00
1.00E+01
1.00E+02
1.00E+03
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Smith Farm Harterman Mary Barb- 35 wks Victor Carr- 39 wks Eleanor Keplinger- 59
wks
Brent Hartzler- 61
wks
12. GI tracts
a
b
c
10 birds/flock
Extract
gDNA
Isolate predominant
bacterial types
Isolate gDNA- 5 isolates/bird
Perform TRFLP
Perform RAPDs
Early Colonizing Bacteria Project
Create
dendrograms
Product Development
Direct selection process
Identify predominant genotypes
Serve as a baseline for perturbations
16s DNA seq
13. bird
Early Colonizing Bacteria- Day-of Hatch and Hens
Isolates within each bird are often identical or closely related- homogeneity within a bird
Isolates from different birds within the same flock are often not identical- some variability in a floc
Some isolates are shared between birds in different flocks- evidence of a core microbiome
Hen isolates appear to be different from day-of hatch isolates
RAPD CE GEL Images of LAB Isolate- Complex 1
Flock
14. 1 2 3 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Flock
bird
Early Colonizing Bacteria Project
Isolates within each bird are often identical or closely related- homogeneity within a bird
Isolates from different birds within the same flock are often not identical- variability within a flock
Some isolates are shared between birds in different flocks- some evidence of a core microbiome?
RAPD CE GEL Images of MRS Isolates
15. GI tracts
a
b
c
10 birds/flock
Extract
gDNA
Isolate predominant
bacterial types
Isolate gDNA- 10 isolates/bird
Perform TRFLP
Perform RAPDs
Early Colonizing Bacteria Project
Create
dendrograms
Product Development
Identify predominant genotypes
Serve as a baseline for perturbations
16s DNA seq
18. Early Colonizing Bacteria Project
Project Objectives
Phase 1
• Isolate and characterize the early colonizing bacterial communities in turkey poults
and broiler chicks
• Identify the core bacterial communities and isolates
Phase 2
• Determine functional role of core community isolates
• Determine if they have potential in preventing disease and improving performance
20. GUT START - Trial 2
Experimental Design
Company: Broiler Company – SE United States, 1.5 M birds/wk
Application: Spray cabinet
Product: GUT START formulation 2 –
90% Lactobacillus salivarius, L. plantarum
10% Bacillus subtilis (two strains)
Samples: hatchery alternated GUT START and No GUT START (control)
every week for 12 weeks
GITs
Age Time
Points Treatments Reps
30 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 240 total GITs
(10 birds from
3 flocks)
(DOH and 7
day)
(GUT START and
No GUT START)
21. GUT START Trial 2
Results
0
1
2
3
4
5
DOH 7 d
Log10(CFU/g)
GUT START Control
APEC Levels
a
b
c
ab
Significance by one-way ANOVA (p≤0.05)
22. GUT START Trial 2
Results
7 d - APEC levels by Log
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
<2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 >7
Log CFU/g category
GUT START Control
Percent of 7 day old
birds whose APEC
levels fit into each
quantitative category
23. GUT START Trial 2
Results – Performance Data
Feed Conversion and average weight gain – TBD (sorting data)
7 day mortality -
Weekly coefficient of variability (CV)
GUT START’s calculated value was > 4:1 ROI
GUT START 1.57%
Control 1.65%
GUT START 10.28
Control 11.28
4.8%
decrease
8.8%
decrease
24. Project Objectives
Phase 1
• Understand the diversity of lactic acid bacteria within the gastrointestinal
tract of pigs- GI section, pigs, source (sow flow)-site, company
• Identify the key microbial isolates of the core microbiome- correlate to
performance and health
Phase 2
• Identify the function of the key microbial isolates of the microbiome
• Determine if they have potential in preventing disease and improving
performance
Samples- pars esophageal, jejunum, ileum
Analysis- Microbiology: enumeration of lactic acid bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella
Microbial Ecology: TRFLP analysis by section- total bacteria, LAB
Early Colonizing Bacteria Project- Swine
25. SUBCLINICAL
A Pig’s Life – Early Stage
Immune Development
Gastrointestinal Development
Microbiological Challenges
• Pathogenic E. coli
• Toxigenic Clostridium
CLINICAL
Birth Wean
Microbiological Succession
• nutrient changes
• stress – social changes
Pre-wean Nursery
26. GI tracts
Pars esophagus
Jejunum
Ileum
4-5 Pigs / Sow Flow
Extract
gDNA
Isolate predominant
bacterial types (MRS, Chrom agars)
MRS isolates- 10 isolates/section/pig
E. coli isolates- 5 isolates/section/pig
Perform TRFLP
Perform RAPDs
Create
dendrograms
Product Development
16s DNA seq
TRFLP primers-
Total Bacteria (3 enzymes)
LAB (3 enzymes)
Identify predominant genotypes
Microbial Terroir Program – Early Colonizing Bacteria
Full Microbial Succession
Sampling
27. 16S Taxonomic Identification of MRS derived
isolates by Age
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
3 10 20 23 34 48
Day of Age
Enterococcaceae
Bacillaceae
Enterobacteriaceae
Flavobacteriaceae
Streptococcaceae
Lactobacillaceae
29. GI tracts
Pars esophagus
Jejunum
Ileum
4-5 Pigs / Sow Flow
Extract
gDNA
Isolate predominant
bacterial types (MRS, Chrom agars)
MRS isolates- 10 isolates/section/pig
E. coli isolates- 5 isolates/section/pig
Perform TRFLP
Perform RAPDs
Create
dendrograms
Product Development
16s DNA seq
TRFLP primers-
Total Bacteria (3 enzymes)
LAB (3 enzymes)
Identify predominant genotypes
Microbial Terroir Program – Early Colonizing Bacteria
Full Microbial Succession
Sampling
30. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
A B C D E
Site - Total Bacteria
L. delbrueckii Enterobacteriaceae Clostridium 301 93
Bacillus Lactobacillus 193 74 502
557 148 156 173 84
524 Minor Peaks
Microbial Community Analysis
Total Bacteria: Effect of Site
n=30 pigs
31. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
A B C D E
Site - LAB
L. delbrueckii Streptococcus L. reuteri B. subtilis group L. johnsonii L. crispatus
Streptococcus Lactobacillus 540 145 165 160
224 153 524 175 123 420
169 587 186 228 Minor Peaks
Microbial Community Analysis
Lactic Acid Bacteria: Effect of Site
n=30 pigs
32. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Day 3 Day 10 Day 20 Day 23 Day 34 Day 48
Age - Total Bacteria
L. delbrueckii Enterobacteriaceae Clostridium 301
93 Bacillus Lactobacillus 193
74 502 557 148
156 173 84 524
476 144 Minor Peaks
Microbial Community Analysis
Total Bacteria: Effect of Age
n= 25 pigs
33. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Day 3 Day 10 Day 20 Day 23 Day 34 Day 48
Age - LAB
L. delbrueckii Streptococcus L. reuteri B. subtilis group L. johnsonii
L. crispatus Streptococcus Lactobacillus 540 145
165 160 224 153 524
175 123 420 169 587
186 228 Minor Peaks
Microbial Community Analysis
Lactic Acid Bacteria: Effect of Age
n= 25 pigs
34. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
3 10 20 23 34 48
Site C - LAB
L. delbrueckii Streptococcus L. reuteri B. subtilis group L. johnsonii
L. crispatus Streptococcus Lactobacillus 540 145
165 160 224 153 Minor Peaks
NHF Microbial Community Analysis
Lactic Acid Bacteria: Site C x Age
n= 5 pigs
35. Project Objectives
Phase 1
• Understand the diversity of lactic acid bacteria within the gastrointestinal
tract of pigs- GI section, pigs, source (sow flow)-site, company
Diversity observed across sections, pigs and sites- impact of weaning
• Identify the key microbial isolates of the core microbiome- correlate to
performance and health
Next steps- correlate microbial isolates to performance using multivariate
statistical methods
Phase 2
• Identify the function of the key microbial isolates of the microbiome
• Determine if they have potential in preventing disease and improving
performance
Early Colonizing Bacteria Project- Swine