Professor of Animal Nutritional Biotechnology
Head of the Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology & Feeding
Biography
Degree in Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens (1994)
Postgraduate Diploma in Food and Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Reading, UK (1995) and PhD, University of Reading, UK (1999).
Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Reading, Food Microbial Sciences Unit, (1999-2000)
Lecturer (PD 407/80) at the Department of Animal Production, Agricultural University of Athens (2002-2004) and at the Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio University (2003 –2004)
Scientific collaborator (2002 & 2004) and postdoctoral researcher (2002 – 2004) at the Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, AUA
Lecturer (2005-2010), Assistant Professor (2010-2016), Associate Professor (2016-2020) and Professor (2020-present) at the Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology & Feeding of AUA
Research Interests
Animal (and human) nutrition and study of the effects of bioactive (functional) food / feed components and beneficial microorganisms (i.e. probiotics, yeast) on target physiological functions of animals (e.g. growth performance, nutrient digestion and absorption, capacity to resist oxidation, intestinal function, gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity, immune response – inflammation, gut integrity and relevant gene expressions)
Evaluation of the efficacy of incorporating various bioactives (e.g. probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, enzymes and phytogenics) into the diets of animals as antibiotic free growth promoters
Application of enzyme technology and biotechnology for the nutritional upgrade of various feedstuffs and by products of agro-food origin and the production of tailored food / feed bioactive ingredients targeting an improved gut function and health
Recent Publications
Paraskeuas V and Mountzouris KC (2019) Modulation of Broiler Gut Microbiota and Gene Expression of Toll-like Receptors and Tight Junction Proteins by Diet Type and Inclusion of Phytogenics. Poultry Science 98: 2220-2230. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey588.
Mountzouris KC, Paraskeuas V, Griela E, Papadomichelakis G and Fegeros K (2019) Phytogenic inclusion level effects on broiler carcass yield, meat antioxidant capacity, availability of dietary energy and expression of intestinal genes relevant for nutrient absorptive and cell growth-protein synthesis metabolic functions Animal Production Science 60(2) 242-253 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18700
Mountzouris KC, Palamidi I, Paraskeuas V, Griela E, and Fegeros K (2019) Dietary probiotic form modulates broiler gut microbiota indices and expression of gut barrier genes including essential components for gut homeostasis. Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 103: 1143–1159. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13112
Evdokia K. Mitsou, Georgia Saxami, Emmanuela Stamoulou, Evangelia Kerezoudi, Eirini Terzi, Georgios Koutrotsios, Georgios Bekiaris, Georgios I. Zervakis, Konstantinos C. Mountzouris, Vasiliki Pletsa, Adamantini Kyriacou (2020) Effects of rich in β-glucans edible mushrooms on aging gut microbiota characteristics: an in vitro study. Molecules Jun 18;25(12):2806. doi: 10.3390/molecules25122806
Mountzouris KC, Paraskeuas V, and Fegeros K (2020) Priming of intestinal cytoprotective genes and antioxidant capacity by dietary phytogenic inclusion in broilers Animal Nutrition Journal https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.04.003
