hLf and Lfcin have also been studied as components of dietary supplementation in livestock,
and particularly in pigs. Tang et al. analysed the role of Lfcin to replace colistin sulphate in a study
on piglets weaned at 21 days of age and challenged with enterotoxigenic E. coli, that examined gut
microflora, circulating cytokines, and intestinal mucosal morphology [105]. When cipB-Lfcin, a fusion
protein that releases Lfcin in the animal stomach, was given as a dietary supplement at the dose
of 100 mg/kg, the development of villus-crypt architecture of the intestinal mucosa was observed.
Because Lfcin can decrease the concentration of E. coli and keep the gut tissue healthy, pigs fed with
cipB-Lfcin had lower serum levels of circulating cytokines than pigs fed a standard or control diet [95].
Further studies of the use of these peptides as an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters in pig
production comprised construct cipB-Lfcin-Lframpin [106]. Piglets fed with construct (100 mg/kg) or
control diets were challenged with enterotoxigenic E. coli. The AMP diet enhanced growth performance
to a similar extent as did colistin sulphate. Analogous results were obtained using fusion protein
containing bLfcin or Lfampin produced by a recombinant of the yeast Pichia pastoris