Deciphering the Prebiotic Potential: A Comparative Genomic Analysis of Polysaccharide-Degrading Microbiota in Production Animals

• Grant number: 24/05163-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Alessandro de Mello Varani
• Grantee: João Victor dos Anjos Almeida
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/25511-1 - Bioprospecting of bacteriocin-producing bacteria: from culture optimization to the application in animal production systems, AP.TEM

Abstract

The study of the intestinal microbiome in animals stands out for its economic relevance in food production and the well-being of these individuals. Many components of this microbiome can play a central role in hosts' digestion, metabolism, and immune response, characterized as probiotic microorganisms. Some of these bacteria, for example, can act on substrates not accessible to animals, the prebiotics, playing a crucial role in the degradation of complex polysaccharides, such as inulin and xylan, present in animal diets. Therefore, the use of probiotics in the feeding of production animals aims to optimize the intestinal environment by influencing pathogen control and mass gain. In this work, we seek to analyze the prebiotic potential, mainly related to the presence of pathways linked to the degradation of plant polysaccharides in isolates from the microbiota of birds, fish, and pigs linked to animal production, as well as the probiotic potential directed towards the synthesis of cofactors and vitamins. The methodology employed will involve the use of bioinformatics and comparative genomics tools for annotation, identification of metabolic pathways, phylogenetic analyses, and prediction of the prebiotic potential of previously selected isolates. To do this, we will use sequencing data from isolates that have proven probiotic and prebiotic potential, originating from the thematic project (N°. 2018/25511-1) linked and generated by PacBio REVIO HiFi technology. Our proposal aims to contribute to the understanding of the beneficial factors of the commensal relationship between economically important animals and microorganisms, opening opportunities for improvements in animal nutrition development, zootechnical parameters, and animal welfare.