Journal Article

Experimental models to study intestinal microbes–mucus interactions in health and disease

Schüller, Stephanie, University of East Anglia [Norwich] (UEA), Universiteit Gent = Ghent University = Université de Gand (UGENT), Etienne-Mesmin, Lucie, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BBS/E/F/00044452, Forano, Evelyne, Gresse, Raphaële, De wiele, Tom Van, Chassaing, Benoit, Blanquet-Diot, Stéphanie, Quadram Institute ; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), De paepe, Kim, Desvaux, Mickaël, Sauvaitre, Thomas, Juge, Nathalie, Microbiologie Environnement Digestif Santé (MEDIS) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Clermont Auvergne [2017-2020] (UCA [2017-2020]), North Georgia College & State University

2019

Overview

One sentence summary: The review summarises the state of the art for studying gut microbes-mucus interactions using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experimental models. Editor: Ehud Banin † These authors contributed equally to this work ABSTRACT A close symbiotic relationship exists between the intestinal microbiota and its host. A critical component of gut homeostasis is the presence of a mucus layer covering the gastrointestinal tract. Mucus is a viscoelastic gel at the interface between the luminal content and the host tissue that provides a habitat to the gut microbiota and protects the intestinal epithelium. The review starts by setting up the biological context underpinning the need for experimental models to study gut bacteria-mucus interactions in the digestive environment. We provide an overview of the structure and function of intestinal mucus and mucins, their interactions with intestinal bacteria (including commensal, probiotics and pathogenic microorganisms) and their role in modulating health and disease states. We then describe the characteristics and potentials of experimental models currently available to study the mechanisms underpinning the interaction of mucus with gut microbes, including in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models. We then discuss the limitations and challenges facing this field of research.

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell,HAL CCSD,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Animals / Bacteria / Critical components / Digestive system / Epithelium / Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Gastrointestinal system / Gastrointestinal tract / Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology / Gastrointestinal Tract - physiology / Homeostasis / Host Microbial Interactions / Humans / In Vitro Techniques / Intestinal microflora / Intestinal Mucosa - microbiology / Intestine / Intestines / Life Sciences / Mice / Microbial Interactions / Microbiology and Parasitology / Microbiota / Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms) / Microorganisms / Models, Animal / Mucin / Mucins / Mucins - chemistry / Mucins - metabolism / Mucus / Mucus - microbiology / Physiological aspects / Probiotics / Rats / Structure-function relationships / Viscoelasticity
• ISBN: 0004930645000