Of men in mice: the development and application of a humanized gnotobiotic mouse model for microbiome therapeutics

Abstract

Gut microbiome: making a human model in mice Gut microbiota play important roles in health and disease, and now the effects of specific microbes sourced from humans can be tested in germ-free mice, which have no microbiome of their own. Many factors can affect how well the transplanted microbiome will reflect the human microbiome it is meant to mimic. Sin-Hyeog Im and John Chulhoon Park of POSTECH in South Korea have reviewed key factors that affect donor microbiomes and how well they transplant to mouse models. Diet, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and exercise regime affect the human source microbiome. Differences in mouse and human anatomies, murine genetic and immunological backgrounds, and the conditions under which the mice are reared can affect how faithfully the transplanted microbiome reflects its human source. This review will help in designing more translatable animal models to test microbial-based therapies.