The use of germ-free (gnotobiotic) laboratory animals in research of digestion tract physiology and mutual interactions between natural microflora and digestion tract pathogens.

The submitted scientific project deals with the influence of probiotic bacteria stabilised on alginite and its humic compounds extracts on the microenvironment of the intestine under gnotobiotic and conventional conditions. We will investigate survival of the probiotic strain stabilised on alginite or its humic substances extracts in the digestive system of model animals (pigs, mice) and validate the effectiveness of the probiotic strain stabilised on alginite on host (weaned piglet) – infectious agent interactions at the cellular level and macro-organism level after infecting the animals with pathogenic strain E. coli O149:K88ac:ent+. We will observe changes in the intestinal environment focusing on microbiological, biochemical, morphological and immunological parameters. Results of the study will contribute to the body of knowledge about mechanism of the effect of probiotics and potential use of non-traditional natural components in prevention of diseases of the digestive tract in monogastric animals.