Project

Diversity and nutritional modulation of fecal microbiota in captive cheetahs

Code
01J12211
Duration
01 May 2010 → 28 February 2015
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Other chemical sciences
    • Microbiology
    • Systems biology
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Microbiology
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Nutrition and dietetics
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Microbiology
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Agricultural animal production
    • Food sciences and (bio)technology
Keywords
nutritional modulation carnivores cheetahs fecal microbiota PCR-DGGE
 
Project description

This project aims to characterize the intestinal microbiota of cheetahs with specific focus on the influence of changes in the strict carnivorous diet on the fecal microbiota and its role in the digestive process. Based on the use of molecular techniques (PCR-DGGE, real-time PCR) and dedicated in-vitro and in-vivo studies, we will identify indicator organisms with beneficial fermentation profiles, and new insights in their role to maintain the normal intestinal health status will be obtained.