Nikita Agarwal, MSc

PhD student
Cornell University

Nikita Agarwal is a PhD student working with Dr. Elad Tako on finding natural and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in poultry feed. Antibiotic growth promotors pose a risk of increasing antibiotic-resistant microbes that can spread to humans through meat consumption. On the other hand, the wine and grape juice industry produces over 70 million tons of grape pomace “waste” annually. This low-cost by-product is a rich source of phenolic acids, which leads to soil pollution when discarded. Nikita’s research will aim to reclassify this waste as a co-product by evaluating its effects on various aspects of poultry gut health.

Poster(s):

• (PO07-02-22) Evaluating the Effects of an Indian Medicinal Plant, Salacia oblonga on Intestinal Morphology, Functionality and the Microbiome In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

• (PO07-03-22) Stilbenes (Resveratrol and Pterostilbene) Alter Intestinal Functionality, Morphology and the Microbiome in-vivo (Gallus gallus)

• (PO07-27-22) Effects of Apple Pomace Soluble Extract on Intestinal Morphology, Functionality, and the Microbiome In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

• (PO07-38-22) Alterations in Intestinal Functionality and Bacterial Populations Following Intra-amniotic Administration (Gallus gallus) of Nicotinamide Riboside and Its Derivatives