Standardization of primers from bacteria related to acidosis by Real Time PCR and rumen microbial biodiversity analysis

Abstract

Rumen acidosis is a metabolic disorder caused by excessive fermentation of high grain diets that enhance production of organic acids. The increase of volatile fatty acids production can decrease rumen pH bellow 6.0 and increase the growth of Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp. (lactic acid producer). The use of crude glycerin associated with virginiamycin could enhance lactate utilization by bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium and to reduce the production of lactic acid from Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp., which may attenuate the risk of acidosis and increase animal performance. The internship abroad aims to standardize the primers of Megasphaera elsdenii, Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) and to learn about techniques of microbial analysis diversity. To accomplish this, we will use primers from literature related to the thesis "Crude glycerin associated with virginiamicyn in high-concentrate diets on performance and ruminal fermentation parameters of nellore steers" (FAPESP-2015/03918-4) and the molecular techniques to evaluate microbial diversity will be learned at Department of Animal Sciences of the Ohio State University. The candidate will standardize the primers used in his Thesis in the laboratory of Professor Jeffrey L. Firkins and will have the opportunity to follow studies with other methods of quantification of ruminal microorganisms and will bring new knowledge to share with his research group. (AU)