The interplay among finishing pig nutrition, gut microbiota and the generation of volatile compounds and greenhouse gases

This was the first report of highly virulent C. difficile strains from a Northern Irish pig herd.<br><br>Chapter 4 focused on Tractidigestivibacter scatoligenes, highlighting its resistance to both Trimethoprim and Streptomycin. This chapter also detailed T. scatoligenes high tolerance to p-cresol, with growth not significantly affected until a level of 0.125% v/v p-cresol and sustained growth observed in concentrations of up to 0.25% v/v p-cresol.

This tolerance surpasses that of many other gut microbes, potentially conferring a competitive growth advantage. Proteomic analysis following p-cresol exposure triggered an upregulation in proteins related to cell wall repair, detoxification, aromatic compound degradation and a shift to alternative nutrient sources. These findings underscore the importance of characterizing novel gut microbes to better understand their roles in antimicrobial resistance and gut ecosystem dynamics, with implications for both animal and human health.