1
|
Galvan A, Pellicciari C, Calderan L. Recreating Human Skin In Vitro: Should the Microbiota Be Taken into Account? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1165. [PMID: 38256238 PMCID: PMC10816982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021165] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Skin plays crucial roles in the human body: besides protecting the organism from external threats, it acts as a thermal regulator, is responsible for the sense of touch, hosts microbial communities (the skin microbiota) involved in preventing the invasion of foreign pathogens, contains immunocompetent cells that maintain a healthy immunogenic/tolerogenic balance, and is a suitable route for drug administration. In the skin, four defense levels can be identified: besides the physical, chemical, and immune barriers that are inherent to the tissue, the skin microbiota (i.e., the numerous microorganisms living on the skin surface) provides an additional barrier. Studying the skin barrier function or the effects of drugs or cosmetic agents on human skin is a difficult task since snapshot evidence can only be obtained using bioptic samples where dynamic processes cannot properly be followed. To overcome these limitations, many different in vitro models of human skin have been developed that are characterized by diverse levels of complexity in terms of chemical, structural, and cellular composition. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different human skin models so far available and to underline how the insertion of a proper microbiota would positively impact an in vitro human skin model in an attempt to better mimic conditions in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Galvan
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (L.C.)
| | - Carlo Pellicciari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via A. Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Calderan
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.G.); (L.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Thomas SC, Miller G, Li X, Saxena D. Getting off tract: contributions of intraorgan microbiota to cancer in extraintestinal organs. Gut 2023; 73:175-185. [PMID: 37918889 PMCID: PMC10842768 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal ecosystem has received the most attention when examining the contributions of the human microbiome to health and disease. This concentration of effort is logical due to the overwhelming abundance of microbes in the gut coupled with the relative ease of sampling compared with other organs. However, the intestines are intimately connected to multiple extraintestinal organs, providing an opportunity for homeostatic microbial colonisation and pathogenesis in organs traditionally thought to be sterile or only transiently harbouring microbiota. These habitats are challenging to sample, and their low microbial biomass among large amounts of host tissue can make study challenging. Nevertheless, recent findings have shown that many extraintestinal organs that are intimately linked to the gut harbour stable microbiomes, which are colonised from the gut in selective manners and have highlighted not just the influence of the bacteriome but that of the mycobiome and virome on oncogenesis and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Thomas
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - George Miller
- Cancer Center, Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, NJ, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Urology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deepak Saxena
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Thomas DP, Zhang J, Nguyen NT, Ta HT. Microfluidic Gut-on-a-Chip: Fundamentals and Challenges. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13010136. [PMID: 36671971 PMCID: PMC9856111 DOI: 10.3390/bios13010136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The human gut is responsible for food digestion and absorption. Recently, growing evidence has shown its vital role in the proper functioning of other organs. Advances in microfluidic technologies have made a significant impact on the biomedical field. Specifically, organ-on-a-chip technology (OoC), which has become a popular substitute for animal models, is capable of imitating complex systems in vitro and has been used to study pathology and pharmacology. Over the past decade, reviews published focused more on the applications and prospects of gut-on-a-chip (GOC) technology, but the challenges and solutions to these limitations were often overlooked. In this review, we cover the physiology of the human gut and review the engineering approaches of GOC. Fundamentals of GOC models including materials and fabrication, cell types, stimuli and gut microbiota are thoroughly reviewed. We discuss the present GOC model applications, challenges, possible solutions and prospects for the GOC models and technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimple Palanilkunnathil Thomas
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Hang Thu Ta
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Torrisi F, Stella G, Guarino FM, Bucolo M. Cell counting and velocity algorithms for hydrodynamic study of unsteady biological flows in micro-channels. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:014105. [PMID: 36714795 PMCID: PMC9878589 DOI: 10.1063/5.0138587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the combination of two algorithms, a cell counting algorithm and a velocity algorithm based on a Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) method, is presented to study the collective behavior of micro-particles in response to hydrodynamic stimuli. A wide experimental campaign was conducted using micro-particles of different natures and diameters (from 5 to 16 μ m ), such as living cells and silica beads. The biological fluids were injected at the inlet of a micro-channel with an external oscillating flow, and the process was monitored in an investigated area, simultaneously, through a CCD camera and a photo-detector. The proposed data analysis procedure is based on the DPIV-based algorithm to extrapolate the micro-particles velocities and a custom counting algorithm to obtain the instantaneous micro-particles number. The counting algorithm was easily integrated with the DPIV-based algorithm, to automatically run the analysis to different videos and to post-process the results in time and frequency domain. The performed experiments highlight the difference in the micro-particles hydrodynamic responses to external stimuli and the possibility to associate them with the micro-particles physical properties. Furthermore, in order to overcome the hardware and software requirements for the development of a real-time approach, it was also investigated the possibility to detect the flows by photo-detector signals as an alternative to camera acquisition. The photo-detector signals were compared with the velocity trends as a proof of concept for further simplification and speed-up of the data acquisition and analysis. The algorithm flexibility underlines the potential of the proposed methodology to be suitable for real-time detection in embedded systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Torrisi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanna Stella
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca M. Guarino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maide Bucolo
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Biagini F, Daddi C, Calvigioni M, De Maria C, Zhang YS, Ghelardi E, Vozzi G. Designs and methodologies to recreate in vitro human gut microbiota models. Biodes Manuf 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42242-022-00210-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe human gut microbiota is widely considered to be a metabolic organ hidden within our bodies, playing a crucial role in the host’s physiology. Several factors affect its composition, so a wide variety of microbes residing in the gut are present in the world population. Individual excessive imbalances in microbial composition are often associated with human disorders and pathologies, and new investigative strategies to gain insight into these pathologies and define pharmaceutical therapies for their treatment are needed. In vitro models of the human gut microbiota are commonly used to study microbial fermentation patterns, community composition, and host-microbe interactions. Bioreactors and microfluidic devices have been designed to culture microorganisms from the human gut microbiota in a dynamic environment in the presence or absence of eukaryotic cells to interact with. In this review, we will describe the overall elements required to create a functioning, reproducible, and accurate in vitro culture of the human gut microbiota. In addition, we will analyze some of the devices currently used to study fermentation processes and relationships between the human gut microbiota and host eukaryotic cells.
Graphic abstract
Collapse
|
6
|
Ruuskanen MO, Vats D, Potbhare R, RaviKumar A, Munukka E, Ashma R, Lahti L. Towards standardized and reproducible research in skin microbiomes. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:3840-3860. [PMID: 35229437 PMCID: PMC9790573 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Skin is a complex organ serving a critical role as a barrier and mediator of interactions between the human body and its environment. Recent studies have uncovered how resident microbial communities play a significant role in maintaining the normal healthy function of the skin and the immune system. In turn, numerous host-associated and environmental factors influence these communities' composition and diversity across the cutaneous surface. In addition, specific compositional changes in skin microbiota have also been connected to the development of several chronic diseases. The current era of microbiome research is characterized by its reliance on large data sets of nucleotide sequences produced with high-throughput sequencing of sample-extracted DNA. These approaches have yielded new insights into many previously uncharacterized microbial communities. Application of standardized practices in the study of skin microbial communities could help us understand their complex structures, functional capacities, and health associations and increase the reproducibility of the research. Here, we overview the current research in human skin microbiomes and outline challenges specific to their study. Furthermore, we provide perspectives on recent advances in methods, analytical tools and applications of skin microbiomes in medicine and forensics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matti O. Ruuskanen
- Department of Computing, Faculty of TechnologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Deepti Vats
- Department of Zoology, Centre of Advanced StudySavitribai Phule Pune UniversityPuneIndia
| | - Renuka Potbhare
- Department of Zoology, Centre of Advanced StudySavitribai Phule Pune UniversityPuneIndia
| | - Ameeta RaviKumar
- Institute of Bioinformatics and BiotechnologySavitribai Phule Pune UniversityPuneIndia
| | - Eveliina Munukka
- Microbiome Biobank, Institute of BiomedicineUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Richa Ashma
- Department of Zoology, Centre of Advanced StudySavitribai Phule Pune UniversityPuneIndia
| | - Leo Lahti
- Department of Computing, Faculty of TechnologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yu Y, Wen H, Li S, Cao H, Li X, Ma Z, She X, Zhou L, Huang S. Emerging microfluidic technologies for microbiome research. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:906979. [PMID: 36051769 PMCID: PMC9424851 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.906979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of the microbiome is increasingly prominent. For example, the human microbiome has been proven to be strongly associated with health conditions, while the environmental microbiome is recognized to have a profound influence on agriculture and even the global climate. Furthermore, the microbiome can serve as a fascinating reservoir of genes that encode tremendously valuable compounds for industrial and medical applications. In the past decades, various technologies have been developed to better understand and exploit the microbiome. In particular, microfluidics has demonstrated its strength and prominence in the microbiome research. By taking advantage of microfluidic technologies, inherited shortcomings of traditional methods such as low throughput, labor-consuming, and high-cost are being compensated or bypassed. In this review, we will summarize a broad spectrum of microfluidic technologies that have addressed various needs in the field of microbiome research, as well as the achievements that were enabled by the microfluidics (or technological advances). Finally, how microfluidics overcomes the limitations of conventional methods by technology integration will also be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sihong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haojie Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuefei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyi She
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuqiang Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yang L, Hung LY, Zhu Y, Ding S, Margolis KG, Leong KW. Material Engineering in Gut Microbiome and Human Health. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2022; 2022:9804014. [PMID: 35958108 PMCID: PMC9343081 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9804014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade regarding our understanding of the gut microbiome's role in human health. Currently, however, a comprehensive and focused review marrying the two distinct fields of gut microbiome and material research is lacking. To bridge the gap, the current paper discusses critical aspects of the rapidly emerging research topic of "material engineering in the gut microbiome and human health." By engaging scientists with diverse backgrounds in biomaterials, gut-microbiome axis, neuroscience, synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and biosensing in a dialogue, our goal is to accelerate the development of research tools for gut microbiome research and the development of therapeutics that target the gut microbiome. For this purpose, state-of-the-art knowledge is presented here on biomaterial technologies that facilitate the study, analysis, and manipulation of the gut microbiome, including intestinal organoids, gut-on-chip models, hydrogels for spatial mapping of gut microbiome compositions, microbiome biosensors, and oral bacteria delivery systems. In addition, a discussion is provided regarding the microbiome-gut-brain axis and the critical roles that biomaterials can play to investigate and regulate the axis. Lastly, perspectives are provided regarding future directions on how to develop and use novel biomaterials in gut microbiome research, as well as essential regulatory rules in clinical translation. In this way, we hope to inspire research into future biomaterial technologies to advance gut microbiome research and gut microbiome-based theragnostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lin Y. Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuefei Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suwan Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kara G. Margolis
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lloréns-Rico V, Simcock JA, Huys GR, Raes J. Single-cell approaches in human microbiome research. Cell 2022; 185:2725-2738. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
10
|
Allenby MC, Woodruff MA. Image analyses for engineering advanced tissue biomanufacturing processes. Biomaterials 2022; 284:121514. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
|
11
|
Hentschel V, Seufferlein T, Armacki M. Intestinal organoids in coculture: redefining the boundaries of gut mucosa ex vivo modeling. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2021; 321:G693-G704. [PMID: 34643092 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00043.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
All-time preservation of an intact mucosal barrier is crucial to ensuring intestinal homeostasis and, hence, the organism's overall health maintenance. This complex process relies on an equilibrated signaling system between the intestinal epithelium and numerous cell populations inhabiting the gut mucosa. Any perturbations of this delicate cross talk, particularly regarding the immune cell compartment and microbiota, may sustainably debilitate the intestinal barrier function. As a final joint event, a critical rise in epithelial permeability facilitates the exposure of submucosal immunity to microbial antigens, resulting in uncontrolled inflammation, collateral tissue destruction, and dysbiosis. Organoid-derived intestinal coculture models have established themselves as convenient tools to reenact such pathophysiological events, explore interactions between selected cell populations, and assess their roles with a central focus on intestinal barrier recovery and stabilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Hentschel
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Seufferlein
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Milena Armacki
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Glowacki RWP, Engelhart MJ, Ahern PP. Controlled Complexity: Optimized Systems to Study the Role of the Gut Microbiome in Host Physiology. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:735562. [PMID: 34646255 PMCID: PMC8503645 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.735562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The profound impact of the gut microbiome on host health has led to a revolution in biomedical research, motivating researchers from disparate fields to define the specific molecular mechanisms that mediate host-beneficial effects. The advent of genomic technologies allied to the use of model microbiomes in gnotobiotic mouse models has transformed our understanding of intestinal microbial ecology and the impact of the microbiome on the host. However, despite incredible advances, our understanding of the host-microbiome dialogue that shapes host physiology is still in its infancy. Progress has been limited by challenges associated with developing model systems that are both tractable enough to provide key mechanistic insights while also reflecting the enormous complexity of the gut ecosystem. Simplified model microbiomes have facilitated detailed interrogation of transcriptional and metabolic functions of the microbiome but do not recapitulate the interactions seen in complex communities. Conversely, intact complex communities from mice or humans provide a more physiologically relevant community type, but can limit our ability to uncover high-resolution insights into microbiome function. Moreover, complex microbiomes from lab-derived mice or humans often do not readily imprint human-like phenotypes. Therefore, improved model microbiomes that are highly defined and tractable, but that more accurately recapitulate human microbiome-induced phenotypic variation are required to improve understanding of fundamental processes governing host-microbiome mutualism. This improved understanding will enhance the translational relevance of studies that address how the microbiome promotes host health and influences disease states. Microbial exposures in wild mice, both symbiotic and infectious in nature, have recently been established to more readily recapitulate human-like phenotypes. The development of synthetic model communities from such "wild mice" therefore represents an attractive strategy to overcome the limitations of current approaches. Advances in microbial culturing approaches that allow for the generation of large and diverse libraries of isolates, coupled to ever more affordable large-scale genomic sequencing, mean that we are now ideally positioned to develop such systems. Furthermore, the development of sophisticated in vitro systems is allowing for detailed insights into host-microbiome interactions to be obtained. Here we discuss the need to leverage such approaches and highlight key challenges that remain to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. P. Glowacki
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Morgan J. Engelhart
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Philip P. Ahern
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Center for Microbiome and Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Liu L, Dong X, Tu Y, Miao G, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Wei Z, Yu D, Qiu X. Methods and platforms for analysis of nucleic acids from single-cell based on microfluidics. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2021; 25:87. [PMID: 34580578 PMCID: PMC8457033 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-021-02485-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell nucleic acid analysis aims at discovering the genetic differences between individual cells which is well known as the cellular heterogeneity. This technology facilitates cancer diagnosis, stem cell research, immune system analysis, and other life science applications. The conventional platforms for single-cell nucleic acid analysis more rely on manual operation or bulky devices. Recently, the emerging microfluidic technology has provided a perfect platform for single-cell nucleic acid analysis with the characteristic of accurate and automatic single-cell manipulation. In this review, we briefly summarized the procedure of single-cell nucleic acid analysis including single-cell isolation, single-cell lysis, nucleic acid amplification, and genetic analysis. And then, three representative microfluidic platforms for single-cell nucleic acid analysis are concluded as valve-, microwell-, and droplet-based platforms. Furthermore, we described the state-of-the-art integrated single-cell nucleic acid analysis systems based on the three platforms. Finally, the future development and challenges of microfluidics-based single-cell nucleic acid analysis are discussed as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Liu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Xiaobin Dong
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Yunping Tu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Guijun Miao
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Zhongping Zhang
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Zewen Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Duli Yu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, 100029 China
| | - Xianbo Qiu
- Institute of Microfluidic Chip Development in Biomedical Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029 China
| |
Collapse
|