12 May HuMiX Effectively Models Human Intestinal Microbiome
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Paul Wilmes
Prof. Dr. Paul Wilmes
Associate Professor
Head of the Eco-Systems Biology Research Group
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
University of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this intestinal model?
Dr. Wilmes: Changes in the human gastrointestinal microbiome are associated with several diseases. To infer causality, experiments in representative models are essential. Widely used animal models exhibit limitations. Therefore, we set out to develop the HuMiX model which allows co-culture of human and microbial cells under conditions representative of the gastrointestinal interface.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Dr. Wilmes: The major findings revolve around the notion that the HuMiX model is representative of the conditions in the gut and that co-culture experiments result in responses by human cells which are analogous to those observed in vivo. We also highlight the potential of the model to provide new insights into human-microrbial molecular cross-talk in the context of human health and disease.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Wilmes: HuMiX fullfills an important need in offering a representative model of the interactions between human and microbial cells in the gut.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Wilmes: It is absolutely essential to co-culture human and microbial cells under conditions representative of the in vivo situation. In particular, it is essential to grow bacteria under anaerobic conditions, an important feature of the HuMiX model.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dr. Wilmes: We will be expanding the model to include immune cells and possibly neurons in the near future to systematically investigate microbiomes, immune and nervous system interactions.
Citation
Nat Commun. 2016 May 11;7:11535. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11535.
A microfluidics-based in vitro model of the gastrointestinal human-microbe interface.
Shah P1, Fritz JV1, Glaab E1, Desai MS1, Greenhalgh K1, Frachet A1, Niegowska M1, Estes M2, Jäger C1, Seguin-Devaux C3, Zenhausern F2,4, Wilmes P1
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Last Updated on May 12, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD