Microbes affect the health and well-being of humans and animals in various ways. In early phases of microbiology, the emphasis in studies of microbial effects was directed at pathogenic microbes which act as causative agents of many diseases, such as respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections. Since then, the more profound role of microbes in maintaining good health and growth has become commonly recognised. Microbes in the gastrointestinal tract help the human or animal host by digesting compounds escaping the enzymatic machine of the host and releasing high-energy metabolites for host absorption.

Alimetrics has specific expertise in studying the processes affecting the health and nutrition of humans, pets and production animals. Examples of cases falling within our range of expertise are listed below.

Human health and nutrition

• Microbial community changes in inflammatory bowel disease compared with healthy controls; including Crohn’s disease [Dicksved et al. 2008] and ulcerative colitis [Newsletter 2009]
• Lactic acid accumulation associated with intestinal disorders [Newsletter 2009]
• Early colonisation of infants as reflected in the immunological tolerance and development of allergies
• Obese humans show different intestinal microbial community than lean subjects
• Role of low glycaemic index products in helping to maintain balanced sugar metabolism and contributing to weight control

Pet health and nutrition

• Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on the gastrointestinal health of dogs

Production animal health and nutrition

• Chicken fed the same feed differ in relation to their microbial community in a way that is reflected to their metabolisable energy and feed-conversion ratio [McCracken et al. 2006, Newsletter 2009]
• Lactic acid accumulation associated with intestinal disorders [Newsletter 2009]
• Microbial community in swine shows non-linear response to formic acid [Apajalahti et al. 2009]
• Microbial community in Atlantic salmon is affected by the amendment of plant-based proteins [Hartviksen et al. 2010a, Hartviksen et al. 2010b]
• Contribution of feed additives, such as pre- and probiotics, herbal extracts, spices, essential oils, fish oils and fatty acids to the growth and well-being of production animals by affecting the GI tract microbial community
• As ruminants are totally dependent on rumen microbes in relation to their energy metabolism, the effects of diet composition are always mediated through changes in rumen fermentation and microbial community [Newsletter 2007-II]