Profile
Huub Savelkoul is professor and head of the Cell Biology and Immunology group in the department of Animal Scienc- es at Wageningen University. He is currently working on a research project which focuses on ‘Nutrition-based gastro-intestinal health pro- motion in agricultural animal husbandry’.
“We have discovered that we can send immune cells activated by interaction with infections or vaccines through specific food com- ponents to a particular place in the body, such as into the airways or to the skin. Some nutritional components with proven immu- nomodulatory activity, like vitamin A and certain fatty acids, we can programme to stay in the intestines. Using a precise dosage of vitamin D3 we can send them to the skin or, with just a slightly different vitamin A to D ratio, to the upper airways,” he said.
Clearly measurable But that’s not all, the researchers were also able to ensure that the activated immune cells stayed in the intestine to fight infection. This was done by administering a particular vitamin A in a very precise dosage. As Savelkoul explained, “so, now we know exactly how we can send the activated immune cells to a specific part of the body and measure that”. According to the professor, by pro- viding precise doses of selected nutritional compounds that have immunomodulatory properties, the immune systems of both hu- mans and animals could be that much more effective and thus respond more quickly and efficiently. When the activated im- mune cells cannot reach the right spot (in time) then obviously valuable energy is wasted. This holds true especially for adequate protection against upper respiratory infections in young animals. “This new knowledge is therefore crucial,” Savelkoul concluded. Another discovery that the professor has high expectations of, is the positive effect of probiotics on immune competence in poul- try and pigs. “Because the research on the underlying immune mechanisms is still in progress, it will take some time before its
fruits can be harested in practice. But given its influence on the immune system, interest in this probiotic is likely to become much more intense.”
Course in October Savelkoul also noted that how the immune system is influenced by immune modulation is based on another important concept: genetic imprinting. “Transgenerational changes in the genetics of the animal run through epigenetic changes rather than through mutation in coding sequences in the DNA,” he explained. “A big advantage of this genetic imprinting is that we can temporarily change the transcriptional rate of coding genes resulting in more optimised immune competence. Because of our discoveries we can precisely adjust the husbandry conditions, like infection pres- sure, breeding, feeding, etc., and this will lead to animals that are more resilient or robust with each generation.” This is why Wageningen Academy is organising a course entitled: ‘How Mother can Influence Offspring’. Among the topics dis- cussed during this course will be the importance of epigenetic influences on the phenotype of the offspring. The latest insights on transgenerational nutritional effects will also be presented along with a wide range of inspiring examples seen in livestock. The goal is to promote a better understanding of the nutritional and environmental maternal influences on the expression of the genome in offspring. The more practical implications for the pig and poultry sectors will be presented at the ‘Gut Health in Pigs and Poultry’ course 2020 that will take place on Tuesday 4 February 2020.
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