AseBio

"We must be aware that the health of people, animals, and the environment is interconnected, and any action in one of them affects all of them"

On the occasion of World One Health Day, we spoke with Rosario Cerrato, Director of Innovation at Ingulados, a technology-based company that researches to improve 'health' by seeking solutions in nature.

Rosario_Cerrato_directora_innovación_Ingulados
AseBio
Healthcare
Agrifood
Animal health

One of the major lessons that the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has taught us is the vital importance of understanding human health, animal health, and the environment as an inseparable whole. In recent years, the concept of "One Health" has gained prominence as the only effective approach not only to comprehend but also to address the challenges that humanity faces.

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in global health risks, especially due to the rise of zoonotic diseases. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE, in its English acronym) warns that 60% of the pathogens responsible for human diseases originate in domestic or wild animals. Furthermore, 75% of emerging infectious human diseases also have an animal origin.

To understand the relationship between human health, animal health, and the environment, the OIE points out that humans and livestock are more likely to interact with wild animals when more than 25% of the original forest cover is lost, increasing the likelihood of disease transmission. Currently, human activity has severely altered 75% of terrestrial environments and 66% of marine environments.

The observed scenario calls for a "One Health" approach to address these challenges and multiple cross-cutting issues, such as antibiotic resistance, food security, climate change, or the fragility of healthcare infrastructure, among others. Solutions to these problems require new multisectoral and multidisciplinary perspectives, centered around the cornerstone that is the "One Health" concept.

Against this backdrop, and on the occasion of World One Health Day celebrated on November 3, we interviewed Rosario Cerrato, Director of Innovation at Ingulados, a company focused on research in biotechnology and veterinary science to develop products and services that enhance animal health.

AseBio: What is Ingulados?

Rosario Cerrato: Ingulados is a technology-based company that conducts research to improve "health" by seeking solutions in nature.

AseBio: How do you define and understand the concept of "One Health"?

Rosario Cerrato: "One world," "one health." We understand that on the same planet, people, animals, and plants coexist, sharing different ecosystems and a multitude of microorganisms and vectors that seek to adapt to the hosts they can reach, due to climatic conditions or human activities when colonizing new terrestrial and marine areas. We must be aware that the health of people, animals, and the environment is interconnected, and any action in one of them has an impact on all.

AseBio: "Research as an engine in service of human health, animal health, and environmental health." This claim makes it quite clear the strong commitment that INGULADOS has to the One Health approach. Why is it so important?

Rosario Cerrato: For us, research is an essential activity that allows us to seek new solutions for health maintenance. According to the WHO, every year, 5 new diseases emerge, and 3 of them have an animal origin. The severity of these diseases depends, among other factors, on the variety of species they affect, their mode of transmission, and their adaptation to new hosts. Research enables us to explore new solutions, such as characterizing new bacterial strains and bioactive compounds that enhance immunity and help us address these new challenges.

AseBio: What are the barriers currently hindering the implementation of a "One Health" approach?

Rosario Cerrato: This approach requires the collaboration of professionals in the human, veterinary, and environmental fields, which can be challenging at times because each works from their own perspective, and the necessary connections for this multidisciplinary work may not exist. Each sector needs to be more open and actively seek collaborations that can extend the scope of our work.

AseBio: Are the necessary steps being taken in Spain in this regard? And in Europe?

Rosario Cerrato: There's a lot of work being done to promote the "One Health" concept in Spain, and there is a growing awareness from the involved sectors about the need to work together. However, I believe that more could be done to promote or facilitate the creation of multidisciplinary teams to address specific issues, such as antimicrobial resistance or the surveillance of new pandemics. In recent research project calls, such as those from the Health PERTE (Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation) program, there hasn't been a prioritized focus on these objectives.

AseBio: Ingulados' primary research area is the study of microbiota and the characterization of bioactive compounds with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activity. What are the benefits of using these compounds in animals?

Rosario Cerrato: Immunomodulatory compounds aim to enhance the effectiveness of innate immunity in animals or humans. This way, we are better prepared to fend off pathogenic microorganisms, preventing them from entering or colonizing an organism and causing disease. It's an essential non-specific defense line to prevent or reduce the severity of infectious diseases in people or animals.

Compounds with antimicrobial activity are of great interest for developing new antimicrobial molecules or synergistic options with existing ones. Research into new antimicrobials is a global necessity to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, as many of the molecules used in recent decades have become ineffective. If we don't act quickly, these infections will become the leading cause of death in the next twenty years.

AseBio: The company also works on the research and development of innovative measures for management and management tools for their application in extensive livestock and hunting operations. What are these innovations, and what benefits do they provide?

Rosario Cerrato: Ingulados also works in advising and directly managing hunting and livestock farms where the coexistence of different species (deer, wild boar, cattle, Iberian pigs, etc.) depends on the control of diseases that can be transmitted among them and to humans, as well as the utilization of existing natural resources. It is necessary to implement appropriate management measures for each area to achieve sustainable livestock while ensuring the conservation of wild species and the ecosystem. These measures include disease prevention through immunomodulatory feed, the management of feeding and watering points, population adaptation to available resources, soil and vegetation conservation, and more.

AseBio: What are the challenges we face if we do not strongly embrace the "One Health" approach?

Rosario Cerrato: Working under the "One Health" approach will allow us to address new challenges quickly, effectively, and sustainably while preserving the planet's health. Otherwise, our ability to react to new problems will be diminished, which will ultimately have a negative impact on our health and well-being.