A Healthy Start: Early-life Gut Bacterial Colonisation and Immunological Priming in the Foal

Bacterial colonisation of the foal’s hindgut has a profound influence on future health. The bacterial species involved in early-life immune modulation and the role of different inflammatory mediators are unknown. Using stored samples from a foal cohort study, we will measure inflammatory mediators in the faeces of foals and correlate them with bacterial community structure and with long-term health. We will identify foal gut bacteria that are associated with an anti-inflammatory environment and with enhanced health. These outcomes will also demonstrate the potential of faecal immunological markers for nutritional research and clinical use.

Hypothesis 

Hypothesis 1: The concentration of immunoregulatory cytokines in the faeces of foals is associated with faecal bacterial diversity and abundance.

Hypothesis 2: The concentration of immunoregulatory cytokines in the faeces of foals is associated with later-life health outcomes.

Objective 1: Measure the abundance of specific faecal inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, MCP-1, TNFα, VEGF, IFNγ and calprotectin) in samples from the Well Foal Study cohort.

Objective 2: Identify associations between faecal biomarkers and gut microbial diversity at 2d, 8d, 14d, 28d, 60d of age. 

Objective 3: Identify associations between faecal biomarkers and the abundance of specific gut bacterial taxa at 2d, 8d, 14d, 28d, 60d of age.

Objective 4: Identify associations between faecal biomarkers at 2d, 8d, 14d, 28d, 60d of age and later-life health outcomes in the Well Foal Study cohort.