Unlocking the potential of microbiomics in animal nutrition(Dr. Andres Gomez)

NutriNews International: That is quite an interesting career path. Thank you for introducing yourself Dr. Gomez.

Microbiome research has drawn significant interest during the las couple of years, however it is somewhat of abroad concept that still holds a lot of unknowns regarding its applicability in animal production scenarios. How would you define the term “microbiome” from a physiological standpoint  as well as based on its relationship with animal nutrition and physiological performance?

Dr. Andres Gomez: Well, the microbiome is defined as the collection of microorganisms, not just bacteria, but also fungi, virus, and protozoa which colonize different surfaces in humans, animals and the environment. In the case of animals we can refer to it as the collection of microorganisms living in different anatomical regions of that animal. Including the GI tract, oral cavity, reproductive tract, the skin, the nose, etc. Practically all of our body is colonized by microbes. Recent evidence collected during the past ten to twenty years and even dating further back, tells us that these microbes impact the physiological landscape of the host significantly. Whether it is through metabolites produced by these microorganisms when degrading different dietary substrates, but also through the interaction that occurs between these microbes, the metabolites that they produce and the host’s immune system. This three-way communication between metabolism, immunity and the role microorganisms influence many different aspects of the physiological mechanistic functioning of the host. Including the way in which we digest foods, how effective we are at retrieving energy from these food sources, how well we are able to fight disease, as well as educating the immune system. Referring to how microorganisms and immune cell orchestrate a very specific communication at a molecular level, which influences the functioning of the immune system. Therefore, through the research that we have been carrying out during this past ten to 20 years, we believe that the way these microbes interact within our gut, as well as their composition in different parts of the body, influences the host’s physiological performance in terms of metabolism, as well as its immunity and overall health…

This entry will be continued on a subsequent publication.

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