TY - THES
T1 - Fate of transgenic DNA and protein in pigs fed genetically modified Bt maize and effects on growth and health
AU - Buzoianu, Stefan
N1 - This was for the final master project
This is a placeholder note
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Abstract
The effects of short- and long-term feeding of genetically modified Bt MON810 maize
on porcine growth performance and health were investigated in two studies. Bt maize
expresses the Cry1Ab toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis which confers insect resistance.
Fate of the cry1Ab transgene and Cry1Ab protein were also investigated. Short-term
(31 days) feeding of Bt maize to weanling pigs resulted in higher feed intake but overall
weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were unaffected. Organ function, as
measured by blood biochemistry, organ weight and histology, was unaffected in the Bt
group. Minor changes were observed in immune cell population distribution but these
were not associated with local or systemic inflammation and there was no Cry1Abspecific
immune response. Bt maize consumption had minimal impact on caecal
microbial community structure; the only populations affected were Enterococcaceae,
Erysipelotrichaceae, Blautia and Bifidobacterium, which were found in low abundance
and at low prevalence. The effect of long-term (110 days) feeding of Bt maize to pigs
from 12 days post-weaning to slaughter was investigated in a second feeding trial which
used a crossover of diets (from isogenic to Bt maize and vice-versa) after 30 days.
There were no adverse effects on growth, slaughter parameters, immune response,
intestinal histology or microbiology. Organ function was not adversely affected and no
histopathology was present. In both short- and long-term studies the transgene was
mostly degraded during digestion and neither the transgene nor protein were detected in
the blood or organs. Overall, short- or long-term feeding of Bt maize to pigs did not
adversely affect any of the growth or health parameters investigated. These findings
should provide assurance to pig producers as well as the feed industry of the safety of
Bt maize, one of the main ingredients of pig diets. They should also help assure
consumers, as a similar lack of adverse effects should be expected in humans, for which
pigs are considered an excellent model.
AB - Abstract
The effects of short- and long-term feeding of genetically modified Bt MON810 maize
on porcine growth performance and health were investigated in two studies. Bt maize
expresses the Cry1Ab toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis which confers insect resistance.
Fate of the cry1Ab transgene and Cry1Ab protein were also investigated. Short-term
(31 days) feeding of Bt maize to weanling pigs resulted in higher feed intake but overall
weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were unaffected. Organ function, as
measured by blood biochemistry, organ weight and histology, was unaffected in the Bt
group. Minor changes were observed in immune cell population distribution but these
were not associated with local or systemic inflammation and there was no Cry1Abspecific
immune response. Bt maize consumption had minimal impact on caecal
microbial community structure; the only populations affected were Enterococcaceae,
Erysipelotrichaceae, Blautia and Bifidobacterium, which were found in low abundance
and at low prevalence. The effect of long-term (110 days) feeding of Bt maize to pigs
from 12 days post-weaning to slaughter was investigated in a second feeding trial which
used a crossover of diets (from isogenic to Bt maize and vice-versa) after 30 days.
There were no adverse effects on growth, slaughter parameters, immune response,
intestinal histology or microbiology. Organ function was not adversely affected and no
histopathology was present. In both short- and long-term studies the transgene was
mostly degraded during digestion and neither the transgene nor protein were detected in
the blood or organs. Overall, short- or long-term feeding of Bt maize to pigs did not
adversely affect any of the growth or health parameters investigated. These findings
should provide assurance to pig producers as well as the feed industry of the safety of
Bt maize, one of the main ingredients of pig diets. They should also help assure
consumers, as a similar lack of adverse effects should be expected in humans, for which
pigs are considered an excellent model.
KW - DNA
M3 - Doctoral Thesis
ER -