Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel
Germany
Ignacio R. Ipharraguerre is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, University of Kiel in Germany. Additionally, he holds the position of Sustaining Courtesy Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida in the United States.
Dr. Ipharraguerre earned his degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1996. Subsequently, he pursued his academic journey in the United States, completing his Master’s (2001) and Ph.D. (2004) in Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, specializing in the nutritional physiology of dairy cows.
Over the decade following his graduate studies, Dr. Ipharraguerre worked in research and innovation within the feed industry in the United States and Europe.
In his current role at the University of Kiel, Dr. Ipharraguerre leads dual-purpose research to explore the effects of selected dietary interventions on the enterohepatic system and the resulting immunometabolic implications for the host, with special emphasis on bile acid metabolism and signaling. Beyond his scientific pursuits, Dr. Ipharraguerre is actively engaged in innovation management committed to translating scientific discoveries into tangible applications within the animal nutrition and health sector.
Bile acids (BA) have conventionally been understood as detergent molecules involved in lipid digestion, absorption, and cholesterol homeostasis. However, recent decades have unveiled their broader role as regulatory molecules, influencing the interplay among the host, diet, and gut microbiota. These regulatory functions of BA are primarily mediated by the nuclear receptor FXR, the G-protein coupled receptor TGR5, and the enterokine FGF19. Evidence from studies in mice underscores the pivotal function of BA as host factors directing the postnatal assembly of the intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, recent findings from our laboratory, demonstrating the secretion of BA in sow colostrum at physiologically relevant concentrations, further support an instructive function of BA in shaping the host-microbiota co-evolution. Additionally, we have previously documented age- and tissue-specific alterations in BA concentration and metabolism in pigs, which have been associated with postweaning growth and immune responses.
A widely accepted viewpoint indicates that prevalent husbandry practices disturb the maturation of piglet intestinal microbiota, particularly during the weaning period. These observations have prompted investigations into dietary interventions aimed at accelerating preweaning microbial development and maintaining a favorable gut microbiome configuration. Against this backdrop, we examined the hypothesis that administering live yeast S. c. boulardii CNCM I-1079 (LSB) to weanling piglets could enhance animal performance and health by modulating microbial BA metabolism and signaling. Results showed that the increase in weight gain driven by dietary supplementaiton with LSB was paralelled by changes in fecal BA composition and plasma FGF19 levels. These findings suggest that LSB may influence postweaning piglet growth by modulating postprandial energy expenditure and satiety signals, thereby shedding light on potential mechanistic pathways underlying its impact.