Animal Biology

• • Modulation of the humoral and cell immune response under the action of various dietary factors (e.g. bioactive compounds: polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids, fibre); alternative feed sources (agrifood residues/by-products, natural additives, etc.);
• • Evaluation of the effects of feed contaminants (e.g. mycotoxins) on animal and human health, support for the development of national and European regulations on the maximal level of mycotoxin tolerance in feeds for farm animals.
• • Evaluation of the effect of various dietary compounds (e.g. polyphenols) or contaminants (e.g. fungal/non-fungal) on the gastrointestinal tract, as first absorption barrier and immune defence; in vitro studies (culture of epithelial, blood, renal, hepatic cells, etc.), in vivo (pig, poultry, etc.) and ex vivo (intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes and Payer plates) resulted from trials on farm animals; nutrigenomics and proteomics studies;
• • Adaptation and development of methods of enzymatic biochemistry; activity evaluation for enzymes with primordial role in metabolism and oxidative stress
• • Adaptation and development of methods/techniques to dose contaminants (mycotoxins).

 

COMPARTMENTS OF THE LABORATORY OF ANIMAL BIOLOGY:

 

COMPARTMENT FOR CELL CULTURES:

Performing in vitro experiments using:
- primary cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils), blood cells and cells from immune organs (spleen, lymph nodes)
- lines of intestinal, renal and hepatic cells: pig (IPEC-1, LLCPK) and human (CaCO2, Hepa)

 

 

COMPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY:

analysing the gene expression of different biomarkers playing an important role in the metabolic and physiologic processes taking place in cells and tissues (blood, organs, muscles, milk); PCR/qPCR/qPCR array applications to determine the gene expression for: cytokines/enzymes/signalling molecules/proteins/receptors, etc.;

 

 

COMPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY (PROTEOMICS):

Investigating, by biochemical techniques, electrophoresis, western blot and ELISA, the profile and concentration of different proteins/glycoproteins/phosphoproteins from blood, cells and tissues: e.g. immunoglobulins/cytokines/signalling molecules/proteins/milk/other proteins

 

 

 

COMPARTMENT OF PHYTOCHEMISTRY:

Investigating bioactive compounds (e.g. polyphenols) from natural extracts and feeds, by determining their antioxidant activity, concentration, UV-Vis spectrum and inhibition of pro-oxidant enzymes (lipoxygenase, etc.).

 

 

 

The Laboratory of Animal Biology evaluates the sanitary-veterinary quality of raw materials used in animal feeding by: Mycotoxicological analyses – fast mycotoxins screening

 

Analysis	Analysis Standard method
Aflatoxins, total	ELISA
Aflatoxin B 1	ELISA
Ochratoxin A	ELISA
Zearalenone	ELISA
Fumonisins, total	ELISA
Fumonisin B 1	ELISA
Deoxinivalenol	ELISA

 

The Laboratory of Animal Biology performs trials on products with biological potential:

- in vitro, on pig and human cells
- in vivo, on pig, poultry, dairy cows in the experimental farm of IBNA; parameters: performance, general health status and immune response (cytotoxicity, cell immune response, antibodies, intestinal barrier integrity, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, etc.)

 

 

Sources of financing for the activity of the laboratory

 

National projects:

• Complex project 8PCCDI/2018 Pc1
• Eureka project 94/2017-2020
• PN3/PED project 189/2017-2018
• Nucleus project 18 20 01-01/2018
• ADER project 6.1.2/2015-2018
• TE project 302/2015-2017
• Nucleus project 16 41 02-01/2016-2017
• Nucleus project 16 41 02-02/2016-2017
• Nucleus project 16 41 02-03/2016-2017
• TE-4 project / 2012-2016
• PN 2 project /101 project -IDEI 2011-2016
• TE-31 project / 2012-2016
• PN project 2/102-Partnerships 2012-2016
• Nucleus project 0937 02-02/2009-2016

 

International projects

• COST Keel Bone Damage (CA 15224/2017-2020) Coordinator Prof. Mickael Toscano, Univ of Bern, Elvetia; local coordinator Ionelia Taranu)
• Bilateral Romania-Belgia (2016-2018): Effect of prebiotic and probiotic on gut microbiota and intestinal processes in pig as animal model of inflammatory bowel disease, local coordinator Gina C Pistol
• Bilateral Romania-Vietnam (2013-2015): Valorization of novel bioethanol plants' by products for the production of high quality animal feeding (local coordinator Dr.Ionelia Taranu)..
• European COST PiGutNet (FA1401/2014-2018)-European network on the factors affecting the gastro-intestinal microbial balance and the impact on the health status of pigs (coordinator Paolo Trevissi, University Bologna, Italia, local coordinator Ionelia Taranu)
• European COST EPICHEM (CM1406/2016-2020)-Epigenetic Chemical Biology (coordinator Prof. A. Ganesan, University East Anglia School of Chemistry, local coordinator Veronica Sanda Chedea)
• European COST GroupHouseNet (CA15134/2016-2020)-Synergy for preventing damaging behaviour in group housed pigs and chickens (coordinator Prof. Andrew JANCZAK, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, local coordinator Daniela MARIN).
• European COST Feed for Health (FA 0802/2008-2013). coordinator Luciano Pinotti, University Milano, Italia, local coordinator Ionelia Taranu)
• FP7 project FOODSEG/2011-2014 Safe Food for Europe Coordination of research activities and Dissemination of research results of EC funded research on food safety (coordinator Andreas Moser, RTD Service, Austria, local coordinator Ionelia Taranu)
• FP6 project Feed for Pig Health/2004-2008 Development of Natural Alternatives to anti-microbials for the control of pig health and promotion of performance. (coordinator Christopher Stokes, University of Veterinary Medicine Bristol, UK, local coordinator Ionelia Taranu)