Metaproteomic analyses of the microbiota in monogastric animals (chicken, pig) at different phosphate levels in the feed (METAPHOR)

The project investigates the influence of feed supplementation with inorganic phosphorous and/or microbial phytases towards the formation of inositol phosphates and the composition of the intestinal microbiota in chicken and pigs. Specific question are:

-          How is the active intestinal microbiome influenced by different dietary treatments in broilers and pigs?

-          Which metabolic pathways are expressed and is the abundance of proteins different between the treatments?

-          Can we identify intrinsic phytases and what is their abundance?

The project METAPHOR is closely connected to the project ‘mikroP’. The animal experiments are conducted within the ‘mikroP’ project.

The project uses metaproteomics to answer the research questions. This method allows an identification of active microorganisms and their expressed metabolic pathways. The results obtained in METAPHOR will be linked discussed to results obtained in the ‘mikroP’ project.