ADVISE is a multidisciplinary project which combines the veterinary, animal sciences, immunology and immunotherapy disciplines. In this project, several in vitro models will be adopted to thoroughly evaluate the biological activities of algal-based extracts and their synergistic and complementary effects for further combinatory therapy against animals infections.
One of the models will use porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) with lipopolysaccharide challenge and algal compounds to test for their anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Moreover, PAMs scavenge superoxide radicals efficiently thus, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) will be also determined in PAMs in order to indicate whether the algal extracts are able to counteract the oxidation process and further improve the quality of meat. Furthermore, several chemical-based assays, including the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and reducing power assays will be used to test antioxidant activity of algal extracts. Besides, algal-based compounds will be tested for their inhibitory activity against major pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (VTEC/ETEC) causing post-weaning diarrhea.
This project will thus bring a wide range of expertise in innovative nutrition, animal physiology, immunology and future guidelines for the improvement of agroeconomy.