Presentation given by Joan Tibau from the Agraric Technology and Research Insitute (IRTA) in the framework of the Emergence Forum Barcelona Biocat organized the Barcelona Emergence Forum (April 10-11th, 2014, Congress Palace, Montjuïc) supported by the TRANSBIO SUDOE, a translational cooperation project dedicated to innovation in life sciences in South-West Europe. The Barcelona Emergence Forum contributed to bringing together Academics, Companies, Investment Entities, Technology Platforms and Technology Transfer Offices from Spain, France and Portugal to set up collaborative projects on Human Health & Agro-food Innovation. More information at: http://www.b2match.eu/emergenceforum2014

1. Pig production & biomedical models:
synergies and opportunities
IRTA EXPERIENCES/FACILITIES & CAPACITIES
PROPOSALS TO
. FOOD / PHARMA INDUSTRY
. MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS & COMPANIES
Joan.tibau@irta.cat
TRANSBIO SUDOE Emergence Forum
April, 9-11th 2014 Barcelona.
Dr. Joan Tibau i Font . IRTA – Animal Breeding Genetics

2. Why pigs as animal model in biomedical research?
Important livestock for food supply &
ideal biological model for human diseases/dysfunctions.
Efficient and precise genetic engineering -> great promise in agriculture and
biomedicine. (One-step generation of knockout pigs by zygote injection of CRISPR/Cas
system . Tang Hai et al . 2014 .Cell Research 31-01-014.)
More human similarities than drosophila, rats, mouse, rabbits…
Natural genetic diversity /variability/adaptability… (flexibility # models)..
Evolutionary proximity to humans ( genomics)..
-> Omnivore, body and organ size , physiology, live long, reproduction ..
Common interest
Human health
Production efficiency
Human health

3. Pig kariotype
Human kariotype
Human,3
Pig,13

4. IRTA - CURRENT STUDIES RELATING HUMANS AND PIGS
• Appetite and feed preference studies . Social and eating behaviour.
• Pig as a model for human obesity/metabolic syndrome studies.
• Epigenetic studies in the human cardio metabolic risk in paediatrics.
• Phenotypic , genetic and GXE studies of pig populations (breed, diet, age, sex,..)
• Genomics and metabolomics of lipid metabolism (cholesterol)
• Modelling human obesity : alometric growth curves and fat deposition in pigs .
• Genomic and transcriptomic studies of swine sex –related hormones .
• Neurotransmitters, stress and intake.
• Microbiological studies in gut. Diet & animal health.

5. SERVICES & FACILITIES
• Formulation and production special diets : powdered milk (Ordesa) and feed mill .
• Experimental pig populations with full breeding control : ( Minipigs: Specipig ).
• Individual growth, behaviour and feed intake (in experimental facilities with
specialised personnel).
• Evolution of live body composition and tissue development using computer
axial tomography (TAC).
• Blood, faeces and urine samples in live animals
• Organ/tissues samples
-> biochemical, histological,
transcriptomics, proteomics
and metabolomics analysis.
-> (animal/human)
growth/ physiology/ health biomarkers

6. Research and Development Collaborative Platform : Food,
pharmaceutical and medical industry and academia join research.
Human health Pig Production
Transition : Lactation-> Omnivore
Appetite : Brain <-> Gut …. Palatability
Digestive tract inflamation Feed Efficiency
Brain activity <-> Food
Activity/ Regeneration Eating Behavior/Welfare
Epigenetics
Mother /children obesity-diabetes Production/Reproduction
Longevity/ performances
Fat mobilization -> milk
Metabolic syndrome
Heart/liver/blood biomarkers Fat/meat /product quality
PIG AS MODEL ORGANISM : fields of preferential /common interest
METAPIGS