New Paper: Innate Responses to Gut Microbiota; Critical Assessment of the Necessary Experimental Controls

Congratulations to our Director and Platform 1 Lead Dr. Kathy McCoy on this recent publication!

Focusing on the recent findings (since 2017) regarding the commensal bacteria of the mouse intestinal tract, Dr. McCoy and Dr. Ohland discuss the importance and advances of what experimental controls are required to reliably determine how the microbiota influences the innate immune system in animal experiments.

The spectrum of colonization. The simplicity of a microbial community is inversely related to the translational potential of that model to the complex human condition. The simplicity of gnotobiotic hygiene states, such as germ-free, monocolonization, or minimal defined communities allow for in-depth mechanistic investigation into host–microbe interactions. Mice colonized with a more diverse or rich microbial communities, such as specific-pathogen-free(SPF) or wild microbiotas, increase the physiological relevancy and translational potential of experimental results. Wild mice, with a ‘wild’ microbiome have more mature immune systems but also have the caveat of likely pathogen exposure earlier in life, as well as increased fungal load.

Abstract

The intestinal microbiota is comprises a diverse community of micro-organisms that interact with many host processes. Innate immune responses to the gut microbiota are of particular importance as they influence many other downstream responses. This fascinating host–microbe crosstalk is a rapidly expanding field of study; thus, it is critical to ensure producibility between studies and applicability to human clinical trials through standardization of experiments. We discuss here recent advances in the field including the spectrum of colonization statuses available, the critical importance of colonization timing, the dynamics of the microbial community, and the required housing of animals, as they pertain to appropriate experimental control and design.

Publication: Innate responses to gut microbiota; critical assessment of the necessary experimental controls. McCoy KD, Ohland CL. Current Opinion in Microbiology. 23 August 2020.

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