Phone
608-263-9402Office Location
1146 Animal Sciences
1675 Observatory Dr
Madison, WI 53706
Dr. Hilario Mantovani received an M.S. degree in Agricultural Microbiology from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and earned a Ph.D. degree in Microbiology from Cornell University under the mentorship of the late James B. Russell. Dr. Mantovani developed several academic and scientific activities in Brazil as a faculty member of the Department of Microbiology at UFV and was a visiting scholar at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center. He mentored more than 40 graduate and 20 undergraduate students and served for five years as Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology (UFV). Dr. Mantovani joined the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022.
Dr. Mantovani’s research program is focused on understanding the functions and ecological interactions between anaerobic microbes that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants. Currently, special attention is given to screening and discovery of new bioactive molecules (notably AMPs) against bacterial pathogens and archaea (methanogens) and the development of microbiome-derived technologies (e.g., bioactive molecules, probiotics, inoculants) for animal health. His research group examines fundamental and applied questions related to the ecology, physiology, and genetics of rumen microbes aiming to unveil their roles in rumen function and host phenotypes. Dr. Mantovani’s research also seeks to understand the mechanisms and drivers of antimicrobial resistance and explore livestock microbiomes for biotechnological purposes, including alternatives to antibiotics. The research goal is to generate knowledge and develop approaches to improve animal health and productivity, promote food safety and enhance the environmental sustainability of livestock production.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles
Oliveira IMF, Godoy-Santos F, Oyama LB, Moreira SM, Dias RG, Huws SA, Creevey CJ, Mantovani HC. 2022. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of antimicrobial producing Streptococcus lutetiensis from the rumen. Microorganisms 10(3): 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030551
Sousa BL, Azevedo, AC, Oliveira, IMF, Bento CBP, Santana MF, Bazzolli DMS, Mantovani HC. 2021. PCR screening reveals abundance of bovicin-like bacteriocins among ruminal Streptococcus spp. isolated from beef and dairy cattle. J Appl Microbiol 31: 1695-1709. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.15069
Lopes DRG, Duarte MS, La Reau AJ, Chaves, IZ; de Oliveira Mendes TA, Detmann E; Bento CBP, Mercadante MEZ, Bonilha SFM, Suen G, Mantovani HC. 2021. Assessing the relationship between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency in Nellore steers. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 12: 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-021-00599-7
Pimentel-Filho NJ, Fuchs S, Baracat-Pereira MC, Mantovani HC, Riedel K, Vanetti MCD. 2021.
Protein expression profiling of Staphylococcus aureus in response to the bacteriocin bovicin HC5. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 105:7857-7869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11594-3
Netto Cândido TL, da Silva LE, Cândido FG, Valente FX, da Silva JS, Gomes Lopes DR, do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio M, Mantovani HC, de Cássia Gonçalves Alfenas R. 2021. Effect of the ingestion of vegetable oils associated with energy-restricted normofat diet on intestinal microbiota and permeability in overweight women. Food Res Int 139:109951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109951
Moreira SM, de Oliveira Mendes TA, Mantovani HC. 2021. Stimulation of bovicin HC5 production and selection of improved bacteriocin-producing Streptococcus equinus HC5 variants. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins.13:899-913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-020-09703-1
Valini GAC, Duarte MS, Calderano AA, Teixeira LM, Rodrigues GA, Fernandes KM, Veroneze R, Serão NVL, Mantovani HC, Rocha GC. 2021. Dietary nucleotide supplementation as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets. Animal 15: 100021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2020.100021
Sabino YNV, Araújo KC, Assis FGDV, Moreira SM, Lopes TDS, Mendes TAO, Huws SA, Mantovani HC. 2020. In silico screening unveil the great potential of ruminal bacteria synthesizing lasso peptides. Front Microbiol 11:576738. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.576738
Moreira SM, Oliveira Mendes TA, Santanta MF, Huws SA, Creevey CJ, Mantovani HC. 2020. Genomic and gene expression evidence of non-ribosomal peptide and polyketide production among ruminal bacteria: A potential role in niche colonization? FEMS Microbiol Ecol 96(2):fiz198.
Araújo FO, Moreira MEC, Lima CF, Toledo RCL, Sousa AR, Veloso MP, Freitas PG, Santos MH, Souza ECG, Mantovani HC, Martino HSD. 2019. Bacupari (Garcinia brasiliensis) extract modulates intestinal microbiota and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in obese rats. Food Res Int 122:199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2019.04.012
Lopes DRG, La Reau AJ, Duarte MS, Detmann E, Bento CBP, Mercadante MEZ, Bonilha SFM, Suen G, Mantovani HC. 2019. The bacterial and fungal microbiota of Nelore steers is dynamic across the gastrointestinal tract and its fecal-associated microbiota is correlated to feed efficiency. Front Microbiol 10:1263. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01263
Cunha CS, Marcondes MI, Veloso CM, Mantovani HC, Pereira LGR, Tomich TR, Dill-McFarland KA, Suen G. 2019. Compositional and structural dynamics of the ruminal microbiota in dairy heifers and its relationship to methane production. J Sci Food Agric 99:210–218. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9162
Sousa AR, Castro Moreira ME, Grancieri M, Toledo RCL, Araújo FO, Mantovani HC, Queiroz VAV, Martino HSD. 2019. Extruded sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) improves gut microbiota, reduces inflammation, and oxidative stress in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. J Funct Foods 58:282–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.05.009
Sabino YNV, Santana MF, Oyama LB, Santos FG, Moreira AJS, Huws SA, Mantovani HC. 2019. Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in the species of the rumen microbiota. Nat Commun 10:5252. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13118-0
Fernandes T, Carvalho BF, Mantovani HC, Schwan RF, Ávila CLS. 2019. Identification and characterization of yeasts from bovine rumen for potential use as probiotics. J Appl Microbiol 127:845–855. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14350
Selected Book Chapters
Mantovani, HC, Lopes, DRG, Bento, CBP, de Oliveira, MN (2017). Microbiomes Associated with Animals: Implications for Livestock and Animal Production. In: Pylro, V, Roesch, L (eds) The Brazilian Microbiome. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59997-7_4
Graduate Courses
AnSci/DySci 824 Ruminant Nutritional Physiology I (4 credits, alternating Fall semester)
Course Description: Rumen microbiology; nutrient digestion, absorption, and utilization in ruminants; VFA and amino acid metabolism; nutrient flux through tissues; methodologies to quantify digestive and metabolic processes.
Chair, Research Committee, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil (2019-2021)
Guest Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology (2021)
Chair, Search Committee Associate Professor Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil (2019)
Member, UKRI International Development Peer Review College, UK (2019)
Panel member, National Evaluation of Graduate Programs in Agricultural Sciences, CAPES, Brazil (2017)
Area Coordinator, Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Review Panel, FAPEMIG (Minas Gerais State Foundation), Brazil (2015-2016)
Program Coordinator, Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil. (2011-2016)
Best poster award – IV Parana Microbiology Conference (2021)
Research fellowship award – CNPq, Brazil (2019)
UK Research and Innovation Travel Grant, UK (2019)
Honorable Mention, Best research poster – IV International Symposium on Microbiology and Biotehcnology, Brazil (2019)
Keynote speaker – IV Microbiology Symposium UFMG (2017)
CAPES Travel Award (2015)
Best poster award – V International Symposium on Dairy Cattle Production, Brazil (2015)
Honorable Mention, Best research poster – Academic Integration Symposium, Brazil (2013)
Honorable Mention, Best Ph.D. dissertation in Agricultural Sciences in Brazil, CAPES Award
(2012)
Honorable Mention, Best Ph.D. dissertation in Agricultural Sciences in Brazil, CAPES Award (2011)