CHEST Guidelines-Harnessing-Murine-Microbiome-Models-to-Study-Human

Harnessing-Murine-Microbiome-Models-to-Study-Human

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The document discusses the critical role of microbiomes in human health, focusing specifically on lung diseases. Historically considered sterile, lungs host a dynamic microflora influencing health through the gut-lung axis. Research into lung diseases and microbiomes has been enhanced by studies on murine (mouse) models. These models help in overcoming challenges in identifying causative relationships between lung microflora and diseases due to human body's complexity. Mouse models are pivotal in this research because of their genetic similarity to humans and their convenience for scientific manipulation.<br /><br />Two primary types of mouse models are utilized: germ-free (GM) and antibiotic-treated (AT) mice. GM mice are raised in sterile environments, devoid of microorganisms, providing a more controlled setting to verify the effects of individual microbial species. Although highly useful, GM models face limitations due to the cost of maintaining sterile environments and developmental impacts on the mice raised without microbes, affecting their digestive processes and immune systems.<br /><br />AT mice serve as another research model where antibiotics are used to nearly eliminate existing microflora. This approach is cost-effective and doesn’t require sterile conditions, yet it presents challenges, such as off-target effects and incomplete microflora depletion, which affects replicability and accuracy in extrapolating results to humans.<br /><br />The paper stresses the importance of proceeding cautiously when interpreting findings from murine models to human contexts due to physiological differences. Despite their limitations, these models are indispensable for exploring the microbiome's role in lung health and disease progression, helping pave the path for new microbial regulation strategies that could influence future therapeutic developments. The document also emphasizes the need for refining these models and suggests further monitoring for potential contaminations and encouraging wider assessments to ensure experimental accuracy.

Keywords

microbiomes

lung diseases

gut-lung axis

murine models

germ-free mice

antibiotic-treated mice

microflora

human health

microbial regulation

therapeutic developments