title: β(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucans modulate immune status in pigs: potential importance for efficiency of commercial farming.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In face of the challenge of the emergent diseases and the current efforts of the governments to create conditions to ban growth-promoting antibiotics and to improve efficiency of the commercial farming, new opportunities are created for natural, highly effective and cost affordable immunomodulators; able to induce and enhance resistance against diseases and to reduce farming-related stress. Supplementation of animal feed with β(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucans has been repeatedly shown to modulate the immune system ant to influence growth characteristics of farmed animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study we focused on evaluation of effects of an insoluble, fungi-derived β(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucan as dietary supplement in piglets. We measured the growth, phagocytosis of peripheral blood cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production after feeding with 15 mg of glucan/kg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following supplementation, β(1-3)(1-6)-D-glucan has been shown to stimulate growth, phagocytic activity, and IL-2 production. In addition, it significantly lowered the cortisol and TNF-α levels after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Louisville, Department of Pathology, Louisville, KY, USA ; 2 Department of Research and Development, Biorigin Company, Lençóis Paulista, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vetvicka
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Louisville, Department of Pathology, Louisville, KY, USA ; 2 Department of Research and Development, Biorigin Company, Lençóis Paulista, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
keywords: fungi; immunity; phagocytosis; pigs; tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); β-glucan