INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF NATURAL IMMUNOMODULATORS ON GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTIONALITY AND IMMUNE STATUS OF SMALL RUMINANTS

The specific objectives of the research follow.1. To investigate the effect of daily supplementation of a multi-strain probiotic (Gut Candy), Ganoderma (a medicinal mushroom) extracts, and phenol extracts of Sweet potato leaves (tannin-rich plant) on the gastrointestinal functionality. This will be determined by assessing the gastrointestinal functionality index biomarkers (Myeloperoxidase, Lipocalin 2, Lactoferrin, Cytokines, and Secretory IgA) in both blood and fecal sample. 2. To investigate the effect of daily supplementation of a multi-strain probiotic (Gut Candy), Ganoderma (a medicinal mushroom) extracts, and phenol extracts of Sweet potato leaves (tannin-rich plant) on systemic innate immune response activation. Since the innate immune response is triggered by Toll-like receptors (Barton et al 2008), this will be determined by assessing genes involved in the TLR pathway (TLR2, TLR4, NFKB1, tumornecrosisfactor-APLHA (TNF-α ) and cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-8, IL10, IL12, IL-1β, CCL3, CCL5,), in both blood and neutrophils.3. To investigate whether daily supplementation of a multi-strain probiotic (Gut Candy), Ganoderma (a medicinal mushroom) extracts, and phenol extracts of Sweet potato leaves (tannin-rich plant) reduce oxidative stress by promoting antioxidant production in both whole blood and neutrophils. Oxidative stressoccurs due to a prolonged imbalance between the production of free radicals and their elimination by antioxidants (Sordillo, Contreras, & Aitken, 2009), often causing cellular damage followed by a chronic inflammatory response. Some of the well-established antioxidants that will be assessed in this project includeMyeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), superoxide dismutase(SOD1), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2)(Bernabucci, Ronchi, Lacetera, & Nardone, 2005).An increased understanding of how GIT functionality may contribute to the improvement of the livestock's immune status and may offer opportunities for alternative control strategies.