Gut microbiome studies have been gaining popularity over the years, especially with the development of new technologies (e.g. metataxonomics, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabonomics) that makes it easier for researchers to characterize the composition and functionality of these complex microbial communities. The goal of these studies is to identify a microorganism, group of microbes, or microbial metabolite which correlates with a disease state (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and obesity). Many of these are cross-sectional studies, where fecal samples from a group of diseased individuals are compared with those from a group of healthy individuals at a single time point. However, there are a wide range of variables that can affect the gut microbiota of humans which make mechanistic studies challenging. Longitudinal studies are required for research to more reliably correlate interventions or disease status to microbiota composition and functionality. However, longitudinal studies in humans and animals are difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. This review will discuss in vitro gut fermentation models and how they can be used to perform longitudinal studies that complement in vivo microbiome studies. Gut fermentation models support the growth of stable, reproducible, and diverse microbial communities in a tightly controlled environment set to mimic the conditions microbes encounter in the gastrointestinal tract. Gut fermentation models will make it easier for researchers to perform mechanistic studies and aid in the development of novel treatments that are both targeted and maintained over time.
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November 2017
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A representation of the intestinal microflora. There is growing interest in the role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease, and this issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences includes reviews that focus on microbiome–host interactions and host health (Basson and Wijeyesekera, pages 325–332), the role of the gut bacterium Bifidobacterium in modulating immune-linked diseases (O'Neill et al., pages 333–349) and the gut virome in humans (Ogilvie and Jones, pages 351–362).
Review Article|
November 30 2017
In vitro models of the human microbiota and microbiome Available to Purchase
Julie A.K. McDonald
1Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, U.K.
Correspondence: Julie A.K. McDonald ([email protected])
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 05 2017
Revision Received:
October 19 2017
Accepted:
October 20 2017
Online ISSN: 2397-8562
Print ISSN: 2397-8554
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology
2017
Emerg Top Life Sci (2017) 1 (4): 373–384.
Article history
Received:
July 05 2017
Revision Received:
October 19 2017
Accepted:
October 20 2017
Citation
Julian R. Marchesi, Julie A.K. McDonald; In vitro models of the human microbiota and microbiome. Emerg Top Life Sci 30 November 2017; 1 (4): 373–384. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170045
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