PhD Student
Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service, Department of Animal and Food Science
Bellaterra, Catalonia
I am Laia Ferreres Serafini, currently pursuing my PhD in Animal Nutrition within the Department of Animal and Food Science at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). My academic journey began with the completion of a veterinarian degree from UAB, where I first discovered my passion for research.
My current research is centered on developing dietary strategies to strengthen the health of piglets during their most challenging phase: weaning. With a goal of mitigating prevalent pathogen infections, such as post-weaning diarrhoeas, I am dedicated to finding solutions without resorting to antibiotics. Based on what our group have investigate, the best impact is achieved by focusing on early piglet ages, such as lactation and weaning. Among the strategies studied, the most promising appear to be those with biotic activity, which modulate the gut microbiota population. For instance, we studied the impact of supplementing weaning piglets with prebiotics, probiotics, and the combination of both, under a challenged situation. Beneficial effects were observed when additives were added, and greater results were observed when additives were combined, benefiting from complementary modes of action.
In addition to my work with biotic strategies, my doctoral research explores the innovative application of nanobody technology to neutralize specific pathogens. Through an in vivo study, we tested nanobodies specifically designed to bind virulence factors of Escherichia coli, aiming to reduce its pathogenicity. The outcomes revealed the effectiveness and selectivity of the nanobody.
Beyond academia, I am a dynamic individual with a passion for exploring professional practices through international travel. During a six-month international stay, I acquired laboratory techniques related to in vitro digestions, complementing my thesis project. Moreover, I have actively contributed to the academic community by presenting my research at various conferences, where I engage in constructive discussions with peers and mentors alike.
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM CST