Infectious diseases in animal production are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to the global rise of antibiotic resistance. Developing new non-antibiotic treatments is a priority in both human and veterinary medicine. In pigs, antibiotic resistance in swine dysentery (SD) is particularly concerning. SD is caused by a highly contagious spirochete, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, which colonizes the colon of young pigs, leading to mucohemorrhagic colitis and severe bloody diarrhea. Without treatment, mortality can reach 30% in naturally infected herds. SD poses significant animal welfare concerns for the pork industry, resulting in reduced production, increased treatment costs, and the culling of infected animals. Antibiotics largely eliminated B. hyodysenteriae in the 1990s; however, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance has recently led to its resurgence. Current treatments still depend on large amounts of antibiotics, which worsen resistance; thus, new therapies could significantly benefit the pork industry. Developing such treatments requires understanding the host immune responses, which remain largely unknown in SD.

 

This research aims to investigate how the porcine gut innate immune system responds to infection during SD and to evaluate novel therapeutic targets. We study the kinetics of the mucin barrier, goblet cell function, glycosylation patterns, and neutrophil recruitment—white blood cells that kill bacteria—during B. hyodysenteriae infection. This knowledge allows us to assess the therapeutic potential of exogenous cathelicidin (native or derivative) and metalloprotease inhibitors in reducing diarrheic colitis caused by B. hyodysenteriae in weaned pigs. Furthermore, by integrating swine disease research, peptide biology, and bioengineered capsules, we explore ways to mitigate diarrhea in weaned pigs through the delivery of encrypted peptides derived from ancient animal proteomes identified via artificial intelligence and machine learning, which reveal hidden anti-infective and immune-protective functions. These peptides are loaded into ingestible smart capsules to target the lower intestines. These studies propose innovative, antibiotic-free strategies to maintain gut health in swine production.