The role of the gut microbiota on animal model reproducibility
Abstract
The gut microbiota is composed of approximately 1010‐1014 cells, including fungi, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, viruses, and bacteriophages; their genes and their various metabolites were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract. It has co‐evolved with each species to assist with day to day bodily functions, such as digestion, metabolism of xenobiotics, development of mucosal immunity and immunomodulation, and protection against invading pathogens. Because of the significant beneficial impact that gut microbiota may have, there is interest in learning more about it and translating these findings into clinical therapies. Results from recent studies characterizing the gut microbiota of various species have demonstrated the range of influences that may affect gut microbiota diversity, including animal strain, obesity, types of enrichment used, bedding and housing methods, treatment with antimicrobials, vendor source, specific animal housing, diet, and intercurrent disease. Relatively little is known about the functional consequences of alterations of the gut microbiota and exactly how changes in richness and diversity of the microbiota translate into changes in health and susceptibility to disease. Furthermore, questions have been raised as to whether germ‐free or even ultraclean, barrier‐raised mice are relevant models of human disease, given their significantly reduced gut microbiota diversity and complexity compared with conventionally housed mice. In addition, evidence…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a review, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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