RL ABTC

Unique scientific installation "Microbiological complex for modeling processes in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals" (UNU "MicroGKT")

The software and hardware complex equivalent to the artificial intestine models TIM-2 and SHIME was developed in the Research Laboratory «Agrobiotechnology Center» DSTU.

The modular system of the gastrointestinal tract developed in the course of the megagrant and created in the Research Laboratory of the TsABT DSTU, simulating the digestive systems of various animals, with the possibility of using in research of the modular elements obtained by biological 3D printing technologies to model its individual structures, provides a unique opportunity to conduct world-class research.

This innovation is being registered as a unique scientific installation "Microbiological complex for modeling processes in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals" (MIKROGKT).

Infrastructure for research using artificial intestine models was created: the analytical section of the NIL CABT was formed, equipped with a complex of analytical and auxiliary equipment, on which probiotic microorganisms metabolites are analyzed.

Statute of the ” MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU

  1. A unique scientific installation “Microbiological complex modeling processes in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals” was created in the Research Laboratory of the Central Laboratory of Biotechnology “Agrobiotech” FGBOU VPO DSTU (hereinafter referred to as Research Laboratory “Agrobiotech”).
  2. Location and mailing address: 1 Gagarina Square, Rostov-on-Don, 344010B.
  3. The “MicroGastrointestinal Unit” is intended for research work on dynamic models that have no analogues: a comprehensive study of “in-vitro” effect of various substances (prebiotics, probiotics, drugs, feed components, etc.) on both functional and structural characteristics of microbial consortia of various gastrointestinal compartments.
  4. The goals of ” MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU are:
    • •Providing state-of-the-art scientific research as well as services (experiments, measurements, research and testing) to interested users;
    • •Ensuring high efficiency of operation and the level of equipment load of the ” MicroGastrointestinal ” STU;
    • •Ensuring the unity and reliability of the results obtained during scientific research on the equipment of ” MicroGastrointestinal”;
    • •Participation in training specialists and highly qualified personnel (bachelors, masters, postgraduates, doctoral students) on the basis of modern scientific equipment of the ” MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU;
  5. The main tasks of the team of employees that ensure the functioning of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU are as follows:
    • •Measurements and research on the scientific equipment of the ” MicroGastrointestinal ” unit in the interests of subdivisions of the basic scientific organization and other users working on scientific topics in the order approved by the Vice-Rector for Science, which provides, inter alia:
      • →Rules for providing equipment and services;
      • →Execution of applications regulations.
    • •Development of new and improvement of existing methods of experimental research and measurements at the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU
    • •Cooperation with other higher education and academic institutions, as well as other scientific and industrial organizations on scientific research and training of specialists and highly qualified personnel (bachelors, masters, graduate students, doctoral candidates) on the basis of modern equipment of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU.
    • •Implementation of measures to improve effective functioning of the scientific equipment of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU.
    • •Performance of a set of scientific research, engineering and technological works, aimed at maintaining up to date “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU ” complex, improvement of the experimental base of the conducted research.
  6. Scientific directions of research of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU:
    • •study of the probiotics effect on the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota of farm and domestic animals and aquaculture objects;
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    • •study of the properties of potential probiotic strains under conditions close to the conditions of its natural intestinal environment ;
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    • •screening of bacterial and micromycetal strains to identify potential probiotics with target activity;
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    • •study of the survival rate of potential probiotic strains under conditions close to those of the natural intestinal environment;
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    • •Study of the effect of biologically active substances, including feed additives and prebiotics, on the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota of farm and domestic animals and aquaculture objects;
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    • •study of drug-drug interactions with the gastrointestinal microbiota of animals, including both the effect of drugs on the microbiota and degradation and transformation of drugs by the gastrointestinal microbiota;
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    • •development of synbiotic preparations including pro- and prebiotic with the study of both the interaction of synbiotic components between each other and their combined effect on the microbiota of farm and domestic animals and aquaculture objects;
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    • •pathological gastrointestinal microbiota modeling of farm and domestic animals, aquaculture objects;
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    • •Modeling the dynamics of the intestinal microbiota during infection with pathogens of groups III and IV
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    • study of the effect of pro- and prebiotics during infection with pathogens of groups III and IV. It is possible to simulate both pro-/prebiotic-pathogen system under conditions close to intestinal, and pro-/prebiotic-pathogen-natural intestinal microbiota taking into account the influence of all three components on each other
    • •study of the drugs’ effect during infection with intestinal pathogens of groups III and IV. It is possible to simulate both the drug-pathogen system under conditions close to intestinal, and the drug-pathogen-natural intestinal microbiota, taking into account the influence of all three components on each other;
    • •targeted selection and strains’ selection using a set of key biomarkers of target activity;
    • •comprehensive “in vitro” study of the effect of various substances (prebiotics, probiotics, drugs, etc.) on both functional and structural characteristics of microbial consortia of various sections of the gastrointestinal tract;
    • •wide range screening of different substances (prebiotics, probiotics, drugs, feed components, etc.) for target activity with selection of the most effective ones.
  7. Priority scientific directions of development, technology and engineering, which can include the results of scientific activity at the ” MicroGastrointestinal”:
    • •Rational use of natural resources
  8. Critical technologies, which include the scientific research results obtained with the use of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU:
    • •Biomedical and veterinary technologies.
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Characteristics of the “MicroGastrointestinal ” UNU

  • – Number of reactors: up to 32;
  • – reactor volume: from 60 to 600 ml.
  • – simultaneous use of reactors of different volumes: yes;
  • – connection of reactors: series, parallel, mixed;
  • – Maintained parameters: temperature, pH, automatic addition of nutrient medium / chyme pumping;
  • – Temperature accuracy: no worse than 0.1 oC;
  • – temperature maintenance range: from room temperature to 90 oC. By special order it is possible to conduct experiments at a lower temperature, from 5 oC
  • – accuracy of pH maintenance: not worse than 0.1 unit;
  • – pH range: from 2 to 13 units;
  • – accuracy of media dosing / chyme pumping: not worse than 0.2 %;
  • – minimum dispensing volume: 0.1 ml;
  • – pumping rate: up to 5 ml/min;
  • – stirring of the liquid in the reactor: magnetic stirrer, with controlled stirring speed;
  • – stirring of the liquid in the flask of the pure medium: magnetic stirrer, with controlled stirring speed;
  • – providing an inert atmosphere: nitrogen, argon, CO2;
  • – overpressure value of inert atmosphere: up to 0.05 atm;
  • conducting research with the reactor protected from outside light: yes;
  • – Manual addition of reagents/drugs/bioactive substances: yes.
  • – automatic addition of reagents/drugs/bioactive substances: on request.
  • – Manual sampling option: yes.
  • – automatic sampling capability: on request.
  • dialysis option: on request.
  • – duration of the continuous experiment: currently not limited (tested – 168 hours, 7 days);
  • – data logging of temperature, pH, pump operation for the whole time of the experiment for each of the channels;
  • – Remote monitoring capability: yes (MQTT, Telegram bot);
  •  – remote video surveillance capability: yes.

Information about the calendar loading of scientific equipment
UNU work plan
№_237_О_присвоении_статуса_Unique Scientific Installment_1
№_238_Положение_об_уникальной_научной_установке_Микробиологический
Regulations
Appendix 1. Application
application_2_competition_application_application_
Application_3_List of Works_performing
application_4_reference_scientific_equipment
Appendix 5. Contract
Information about the calendar loading of scientific equipment
UNU work plan