Doctoral research at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UGent and the faculty of Bioengineering, UAntwerpen in collaboration with YUN N.V.
The general aim of this research is to map the ear microbiome in the healthy dog, to evaluate the influence of CAD on this ear microbiome and to develop a topical ear product based on probiotic strains to prevent flare-ups of OE in patients with atopy.
This PhD research will provide further insights into reducing the occurrence of OE in dogs with CAD by using a topical ear product based on known probiotic species. In addition to YUN's existing expertise within human dermatology, this research will enable further steps to be taken into veterinary dermatology.
Through the development of an efficient, user-friendly and safe formulation for application in the ear of dogs to prevent flare-ups of OE, YUN will be able to contribute to the reduction of antibiotic and antimycotic use in veterinary medicine.
- Identification of the ear microbiome in the healthy dog and the dog with atopic dermatitis
- In vitro evaluation of the antipathogenic properties of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus YUN-V1.0, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YUN-V2.0 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus YUN-S1.0 against otitis externa pathogens
- Development of an easy-to-use topical formulation based on probiotic species to be administered in the ear of the dog
When a dog shows symptoms of an ear infection, the treatment includes antibiotics. Unfortunately, more and more bacteria are not sensitive to one or more types of antibiotics (the so-called antibiotic resistance problem), making ear infections increasingly difficult to treat. Instead of killing the harmful bacteria with such antibiotics, we are investigating whether adding bacteria with beneficial properties for ear health, so-called probiotics, can prevent ear infections. By developing an effective, easy-to-use and safe formulation for application in the ear of dogs to prevent flare-ups of OE, YUN will be able to contribute to the reduction of antibiotic and antimycotic use in veterinary medicine.
