Mylène Blais, Ph.D.
Current research and/or projects
The main objectives related to Dr Blais’s research activities are: 1) To elaborate new strategies to replace the use of antibiotics in the swine industry by improving pig’s immunity and gut health through microbiota optimisation; 2) To develop new technologies and approaches to study swine immune system and gut defenses in response to stress and pathogens; 3) To give a better understanding of swine intestinal and immune development.
Research and/or project statements
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Early interventions supporting the development of a potent immune system for robust and healthy piglets without the need of AMU using alfalfa silage and cranberry-derived proanthocyanidins applied to the sows and piglets in maternity and nursery.
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Determine the impact of birth weight and gain weight during lactation on piglets’ immune status, gut development and microbiota.
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Use of bovine colostrum as a feeding strategy to decrease the use of antibiotics at weaning by improving piglets intestinal defenses and immunity
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Develop in vitro models of porcine intestinal epithelial cell and immune cell cultures and co-cultures to study intestinal and immune response to enteric pathogens, evaluate the potential of various bioactive products to alleviate inflammation and maintain intestinal epithelial integrity.
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Evaluate the potential of neonatal fecal transplant to improve piglets’ microbiota diversity, gut development and immunity.
Key publications
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2019 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH FORUM; October 9, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
2019 - View publication details
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Lessard, M., Blais, M., Beaudoin, F., Deschene, K., Verso, L.L., Bissonnette, N., Lauzon, K., Guay, F. (2018). Piglet weight gain during the first two weeks of lactation influences the immune system development. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, [online] 206 25-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.11.005
2018 - View publication details