Ecolex Commercial Director highlights gut health strategies to reduce AMR

Outlining the urgent challenges of reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal agriculture during his presentation at the Vietstock 2025 AMR Forum, Ecolex Commercial Director Edward Manchester advocated for integrating nutritional interventions into feed strategies as part of a comprehensive One Health approach.

Edward Manchester, Global Commercial Director of Ecolex Animal Nutrition, delivered a compelling presentation on “Nutritional Interventions to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” at the Vietstock 2025 AMR Forum on October 9, 2025.

He emphasized that the AMR crisis is intensified by the absence of new antibiotic classes, with no discoveries made since 1984, only modifications of existing compounds.

GUT HEALTH STRATEGIES TO REDUCE AMR
Manchester advocated for integrating nutritional interventions into a feed strategy as part of a comprehensive and integrated One Health approach that also includes biosecurity and hygiene, and good farm management practices aligned with Vietnam’s National Action Plan on AMR.

The selection of alternatives to antibiotics should consider specific gut health challenges, farm management systems, economics and regulatory requirements. According to Manchester, just some of the nutritional interventions to enhance gut health and reduce AMR include:

Mitigating Mycotoxins: Mycotoxins indirectly drive AMR by harming gut health and weakening immunity. Conventional clay mineral mycotoxin binders, such as aluminosilicate clays and bentonites work by physiochemical adsorbing mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, binders are generally effective against polar mycotoxins like aflatoxins and smaller mycotoxins like ochratoxin A. However, larger and more complex mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins and trichothecenes (including T-2 toxin) are poorly absorbed.

In contrast, enzymatic detoxification selectively and permanently bio-transform specific mycotoxins into non-toxic forms.

Reducing Pathogen Load and Increasing Digestion: Acidifiers can help mitigate AMR primarily by their ability to favorably manipulate the gut environment and microbial populations. Acidifiers, which include organic acids and their salts, work to lower gut pH and create conditions that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, that may damage the gut lining. They also allow beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus to flourish, but unlike antibiotics, acidifiers do not lead to the development of resistant bacteria.

Acidifiers also stimulate proteolytic enzymes like pepsin by optimizing stomach acidity, improving protein digestion and nutrient absorption, which supports overall gut health and immune function. Furthermore, organic acids may slow gastric emptying, extend digestion time and allow more thorough nutrient breakdown and uptake.

Maximizing Nutrient Absorption: While enzymes are well recognized and commonly used to breakdown hard to digest substrates such as non-starch polysaccharides, there is increasing interest in the use of innovative blends of emulsifiers such as the Lipo range that combine both lipophilic (fat-attracting) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) emulsifiers, allowing to stabilize and dissolve both lipid and water components of feed—unlike traditional emulsifiers.

The different emulsifiers effectively separating the key nutrients—carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins—increasing their surface area available for enzymatic activity.

Novel Antibacterials: While searching for AGP alternatives, researchers found that antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) significantly reduce bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity—an enzyme that weakens the antibacterial effects of bile salts. Bile salts have strong antibacterial (and emulsification) properties by disrupting bacterial cell walls and damaging DNA. However, BSH enzymes from gut bacteria neutralize bile salts by converting them into less effective forms, diminishing their ability to control harmful microbes.

The bile salt hydrolase inhibitor (BSHI) GutLuk, reduces BSH activity to preserve the antimicrobial function of bile salts. This innovative strategy supports intestinal health and enhances lipid metabolism, improving feed efficiency and animal growth without the risks associated with antibiotics.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs): Monolaurin, derived from MCFA lauric acid, shows antimicrobial effectiveness based on its molecular structure. Monolaurin is effective against gram-positive bacteria like Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus suis but not against gram-negative bacteria. However, a microemulsion of alpha-monolaurin disrupts the protective membranes of pathogens, increasing membrane permeability and causing them to disintegrate. This form effectively inhibits gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, molds like Aspergillus niger and Penicillium digitatum, and enveloped viruses. In inhibition tests, Ecolex’s proprietary emulsified alpha-monolaurin (Lipo ZAP) at 600 ppm and 1200 ppm showed strong inhibition of E. coli and S. suis, while monomeric alpha-monolaurin only showed minimal effects.

Pour plate method Inhibition ratio (%) = (1-(bacteria CFU in treatment/bacteria CFU in control) x 100%

MCFAs are also rapidly absorbed and metabolized by intestinal cells, providing quick and efficient energy that promotes epithelial cell regeneration and preserving mucosal integrity, MCFAs strengthen the gut barrier, preventing harmful pathogens and toxins from entering the bloodstream, thus reducing inflammation and infection risk. MCFAs also help balance the gut microbiome by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria and encouraging beneficial microbes, enhancing digestion and nutrient absorption.

INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
Manchester concluded that ensuring a sustainable future for animal agriculture requires strong industry collaboration. This includes uniting farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists, feed millers, and feed additive suppliers under a comprehensive One Health approach. By working together across disciplines and sectors, stakeholders can implement integrated strategies that combine nutritional interventions with biosecurity, hygiene, and good farm management practices. Such collective action is essential to effectively reduce antimicrobial resistance, safeguard animal and public health, and support resilient and productive livestock systems.