Work Package 2 - Functionality of microbial communities at host level.
Objectives
The purpose of this WP is to develop an experimental system that allows for the study of the effects of micro-organisms on the host in an unambiguous way contributing to an increased knowledge on the effect of micro-organisms on the host metabolism.
The specific objectives are to:
- develop an axenic larval growth protocol using compound diet instead of live feed.
- develop a gnototiobic challenge test for larvae using Listonella (Vibrio) anguillarum.
- investigate the effect of feed components on the outcome of L. anguillarum challenge .
- determine the relationship between diversity of the microbial consortium and prevention of invasion by a pathogen.
- investigate the effect of defined microbial consortium on host metabolism using a cDNA-AFLP approach and L. anguillarum challenge outcome.
- investigate to what extent the microbial community contributes to the feed degradation and fermentation.
- investigate the effect of immunostimulants on host metabolism (cDNA-AFLP) and L. anguillarum challenge outcome.
- investigate to what extent the microbial community composition in later phases is determined by the early exposure to certain micro-organisms (imprinting).
Milestones
- Axenic/gnotobiotic larval growth test using non-live feed for 3 species
- Larval challenge test under gnotobiotic conditions
- Selection of micro-organisms and communities to perform diversity-stability test
- Selection of immunostimulants to be included
- Selection of micro-organisms to be used in imprinting experiments
Deliverables
- Protocol for axenic larval growth test using non-live feed
- Protocol for gnotobiotic larval challenge
- Report on the effect of microbial community diversity on pathogen invasiveness
- Report on the importance of quorum sensing on pathogen invasiveness under gnotobiotic conditions
- Report on the effect of feed components and immunostimulants on the outcome of L. anguillarum challenge
- Report on gene expression in the host as modulated beneficial microbial communities under gnotobiotic conditions
- Report on the identity of genes modulated by beneficial microbial communities
- Report on the imprinting effect of selected microbial communities on the gut MC composition
- Report on the contribution of micro-organism and live feed to feed digestion
