Researchers at Kansas State University found a range of gut microbe characteristics in pigs help dictate effectiveness of vaccines.

The study focused on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in weaning age pigs. Head researcher Megan Niederwerder Brownfield increased diversity of gut microbes in pigs leads to better outcomes against pathogens and vaccine responses.

“That, in our minds, can hopefully help not only with this disease but any future disease that maybe introduced or emerge that we don’t even know about right now.”

She said her team’s findings opens up a new perspective on vaccines.

…