GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIAL ECOLOGY OF WEANING PIGLETS FED A GLYPHOSATE AMMENDED AND L-TRYPTOPHAN REDUCED DIETS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of glyphosate on the gastrointestinal microbial ecology of pigs fed a diet, not amended with tryptophan. Glyphosate inhibits a step in the shikimate pathway, providing precursors for synthesis of aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine). If these amino acids are sufficiently present in the environment, microorganisms may utilize them; if not present in sufficient amounts, the microorganisms depend on intracellular amino acid synthesis, involving the shikimate pathway, and may thus be more sensitive to glyphosate.