WIAS magazine 2nd edition - Winter 2021

WIAS magazine aims to strengthen the community of WIAS PhDs & Post-Docs, because Science connects us all. We do this by offering a platform to showcase the amazing work being performed under the WIAS umbrella and combine this with a personal touch. 

After a succesfull launch we are now in full flight. Please enjoy this second edition containing brand new articles, published January 2022.

Mucosal vaccination of fish: A whole body approach

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Research Overview

Key words: Aquaculture, mucosal vaccination, immune response & zebrafish

My PhD project aims to develop novel mucosal vaccination strategies for warm water fish species. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and possibly eradicate diseases which affect aquaculture fish species. Currently, the most effective vaccines are generally delivered by injection, but this method is labour intensive, causes handling stress and is only viable for certain fish species at the right age. Therefore, mucosal vaccination of fish by immersion or oral administration, targeting the gills, skin, intestines, or olfactory organs is preferred.

A Window of Opportunity – How feed additives modulate the porcine gut microbiota and immune system in early life

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Research Highlight

Key words: E. coli Nissle 1917; porcine; gastro-intestinal tract; gut microbiota; immune system; early life

In early life and around weaning piglets are susceptible to infection due to abrupt dietary, social and environmental changes that may directly or indirectly impact gut health and animal performance. In the past, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) were intensively used in the livestock industry to prevent the development of gastro-intestinal disorders and to optimise animal performance. However, because of the worldwide concern on the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, the use of in-feed AGPs has been banned in the European Union since 2006. As a result, sustainable alternatives to in-feed AGPs that promote animal health and performance received great interest. In the last few decades, researchers have been studying the effects of several promising microbial and non-microbial nutritional factors for pigs. Pre- and probiotics, for example, have been shown to influence the porcine gut microbiota, improve gut epithelial barrier function and modulate the immune system. It is evident that these complex systems are inherently linked to each other and are important determinants of health and disease.

Behind the scenes of the very first in-home digestibility study with cats!

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Research light

Keywords: in-home, digestibility, cats, behind the scenes, the travel of the cat turd

For the very first time a digestibility study with cats has been done in cooperation with cat owners. Participants received cat food and collected their cats’ faeces at home. Do you want to have a look behind the scenes and discover the road that every cat turd travels? Watch the movie!

Reaching the coastal area of Bangladesh WUR-WIAS-AFI

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Research light

Keywords: Bangladesh, Silvo-Aquaculture, Research, Farmers, Aquaculture

I am Md.Iftakharul Alam, a 4th year PhD researcher at the Aquaculture and Fisheries Group (AFI), Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS), Wageningen University and Research (WUR). I am exerting myself to complete my PhD thesis now. Four years back, my PhD journey began with writing the WIAS proposal and taking some TSP courses. Afterwards, from the Netherlands, I returned to Bangladesh and stayed there for my field work for a long time. One of the very first things of the field work that I did was setting up a field laboratory in a very rural coastal area in Bangladesh.

Introduction to WAPS (WIAS Associated PhD Students) Council

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Student lifestyle

The aim of the WAPS (WIAS Associated PhD Students) Council is to act in the interest of all WIAS PhD Candidates by active participation in the WIAS Education Committee, Wageningen PhD Council and the WIAS Board. The WAPS council strives for a good education programme, contributes to future research plans, and facilitates contacts between WIAS PhD Candidates. We monitor and act upon internal and external developments that might affect WIAS PhD Candidates. If you are interested to join us or if you have questions, you can contact the WAPS council via: waps.wias@wur.nl.

Lacrosse: Are you going to catch butterflies? Is that a fish net?

WIAS magazine - Winter edition 2021
Student lifestyle - Sport

Are you going to catch butterflies? Is that a fish net? Is that the sport you play on a horse? These are questions we often get when traveling for gamedays. But no, this net we have is a lacrosse stick. Lacrosse is a fast, active and engaging sport that is relatively unknown in the Netherlands. It is played in teams of 10 and everyone has a stick (crosse) with a net at the end. To win you have to play together with your team and score more goals than your opponent. Lacrosse is often compared to hockey, but the difference is that in hockey the ball rolls over the ground, where as in lacrosse it moves through the air. Rules and gear are different for men and women (figure 1). Women’s lacrosse is mainly focused on skill whereas men’s lacrosse includes physical contact.

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