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An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions
Published on: June 30, 2021
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With a Little Help from my Enteric Microbial Friends
1Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
Frontiers in Medicine
|June 2, 2015
Summary
Recent findings reveal intricate interactions between viruses and bacteria, particularly in the gut. This virus-bacterium interplay, observed in enteric microbial tandems, may offer new therapeutic and preventative strategies against infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Bacteriology and virology are distinct scientific fields with limited interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Microbiologists typically segregate into non-overlapping groups of bacteriologists and virologists.
- Recent research highlights elegant interactions between viruses and bacteria, potentially bridging these disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current findings on virus-bacterium interactions within the gut microbiota.
- To explore specific examples of enteric microbial tandems, including norovirus-Enterobacter cloacae, MMTV-LPS, and poliovirus/reovirus-intestinal bacteria.
- To discuss the implications of these interactions for therapeutic strategies and public health.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on virus-bacterium interactions.
- Focus on colocalization of viruses and bacteria within the intestinal environment.
- Analysis of specific microbial pairings and their functional relationships.
Main Results:
- Virus-bacterium interactions are most likely to occur in the gut, home to a vast commensal bacterial population.
- Specific examples of virus-bacterium tandems include norovirus-Enterobacter cloacae, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and poliovirus/reovirus-intestinal bacteria.
- These interactions demonstrate a close interplay between viral and bacterial components within the enteric ecosystem.
Conclusions:
- The study of virus-bacterium interactions can foster greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and bacteriology.
- Understanding these microbial tandems offers potential for novel therapeutic interventions for viral infections.
- Exploiting these interactions may lead to strategies for preventing virus spread and reducing community health risks.
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