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Wilde J, Boyes R, Robinson AV, Daisley BA, Botschner AJ, Brettingham DJL, Macpherson CV, Mallory E, Allen-Vercoe E. Assessing phage-host population dynamics by reintroducing virulent viruses to synthetic microbiomes. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:768-778.e9. [PMID: 38653241 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Microbiomes feature complex interactions between diverse bacteria and bacteriophages. Synthetic microbiomes offer a powerful way to study these interactions; however, a major challenge is obtaining a representative bacteriophage population during the bacterial isolation process. We demonstrate that colony isolation reliably excludes virulent viruses from sample sources with low virion-to-bacteria ratios such as feces, creating "virulent virus-free" controls. When the virulent dsDNA virome is reintroduced to a 73-strain synthetic gut microbiome in a bioreactor model of the human colon, virulent viruses target susceptible strains without significantly altering community structure or metabolism. In addition, we detected signals of prophage induction that associate with virulent predation. Overall, our findings indicate that dilution-based isolation methods generate synthetic gut microbiomes that are heavily depleted, if not devoid, of virulent viruses and that such viruses, if reintroduced, have a targeted effect on community assembly, metabolism, and prophage replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Wilde
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Randy Boyes
- Queen's University, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Avery V Robinson
- University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Brendan A Daisley
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alexander J Botschner
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Dylan J L Brettingham
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Christine V Macpherson
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Mallory
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Macpherson CV, Daisley BA, Mallory E, Allen-Vercoe E. The untapped potential of cell culture in disentangling insect-microbial relationships. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2024; 3:20. [PMID: 38841412 PMCID: PMC11149091 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell culture is a powerful technique for the investigation of molecular mechanisms fundamental to health and disease in a diverse array of organisms. Cell lines offer several advantages, namely their simplistic approach and high degree of reproducibility. One field where cell culture has proven particularly useful is the study of the microbiome, where cell culture has led to the illumination of microbial influences on host immunity, nutrition, and physiology. Thus far, researchers have focused cell culture work predominantly on humans, but the growing field of insect microbiome research stands to benefit greatly from its application. Insects constitute one of Earth's most diverse and ancient life forms and, just as with humans, possess microbiomes with great significance to their health. Insects, which play critical roles in supporting food security and ecological stability, are facing increasing threats from agricultural intensification, climate change, and pesticide use. As the microbiome is closely tied to host health, gaining a more robust understanding is of increasing importance. In this review, we assert that the cultivation and utilization of insect gut cell lines in microbiome research will bridge critical knowledge gaps essential for informing insect management practices in a world under pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, ON, Canada
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Yadav A, Ahlawat S, Sharma KK. Culturing the unculturables: strategies, challenges, and opportunities for gut microbiome study. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad280. [PMID: 38006234 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Metagenome sequencing techniques revolutionized the field of gut microbiome study. However, it is equipped with experimental and computational biases, which affect the downstream analysis results. Also, live microbial strains are needed for a better understanding of host-microbial crosstalks and for designing next-generation treatment therapies based on probiotic strains and postbiotic molecules. Conventional culturing methodologies are insufficient to get the dark gut matter on the plate; therefore, there is an urgent need to propose novel culturing methods that can fill the limitations of metagenomics. The current work aims to provide a consolidated evaluation of the available methods for host-microbe interaction with an emphasis on in vitro culturing of gut microbes using organoids, gut on a chip, and gut bioreactor. Further, the knowledge of microbial crosstalk in the gut helps us to identify core microbiota, and key metabolites that will aid in designing culturing media and co-culturing systems for gut microbiome study. After the deeper mining of the current culturing methods, we recommend that 3D-printed intestinal cells in a multistage continuous flow reactor equipped with an extended organoid system might be a good practical choice for gut microbiota-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Yadav
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Gut Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India
| | - Shruti Ahlawat
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram 122505, Haryana, India
| | - Krishna K Sharma
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Gut Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India
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Mathur H, Mechoud MA, Matthews C, Lordan C, FitzGerald JA, Beresford T, Cotter PD. Methods to mitigate Escherichia coli blooms in human ex vivo colon model experiments using the high throughput micro-Matrix bioreactor fermentation system. MethodsX 2023; 11:102393. [PMID: 37846356 PMCID: PMC10577065 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo colon model experiments are frequently employed as a means to assess the gut microbiome modulating potential of different foods, food ingredients and dietary supplements. A number of useful models already exist; however, they tend to be relatively low in terms of throughput (3-4 samples per experiment) with a long experiment duration of one to a number of weeks. Therefore, a need for a high-throughput system with a short duration time is required to enable screening of large numbers of samples. Therefore, we report here on the development of a system based on the Applikon micro-Matrix bioreactor which has the capacity to run 24 samples with an experiment duration of 48 h. However, Escherichia coli blooms are a common problem encountered in this model. Here, we describe the factors that contribute to such blooms and provide approaches to address them, providing:•Step by step optimisation of processes involved in conducting ex vivo distal colon experiments using the micro-Matrix bioreactor fermentation platform•Recommended steps for users on how to attenuate E. coli blooms in such ex vivo colon model experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Mathur
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Monica A. Mechoud
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Chloe Matthews
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Cathy Lordan
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Jamie A. FitzGerald
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Tom Beresford
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
| | - Paul D. Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- Food for Health Ireland, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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