Cattle Gut Microbiome and Functional Genomics
As a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Animal Function Genomics and Microbiome, Dr. Leluo Guan heads a crucial and wide-ranging five-year study into cattle methane emissions. The study will use metagenomic and machine learning analysis to study rumen microbes in samples from across Canada, with the eventual goal of improving energy sources for cattle while lowering methane output.
Dr. Guan’s project is a multidisciplinary collaboration between major institutions and researchers throughout Canada. Together, they aims to understand the complexities of methane-generating processes in the rumen microbiome of beef and dairy cattle—while also developing novel technologies and management strategies to make these processes as efficient as possible at inhibiting emissions.
Researcher Profiles
Leluo Guan
Professor, Applied Biology
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1)
Dr. Guan is one of the pioneer researchers in cattle gut microbiome and its interactions with host. Dr. Guan’s research program focuses on three key areas.
- Host-microbial interactions using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics approaches, and host gene expression using a functional genomics approach
- Association between gut microbiome and feed efficiency, methane emission, meat/milk quality and safety, gut development and health in beef and dairy cattle
- Study of the bovine transcriptome, proteome, and non-coding RNAs and their roles in economically important traits.
