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Mouse microbiomes: overlooked culprits of experimental variability

Maria-Luisa Alegre1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, University of Chicago, South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. malegre@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.

Genome Biology
|May 31, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Differences in mouse microbiomes, even in genetically identical mice, impact susceptibility to infections. A recent study highlights varying Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection risks based on microbiome composition.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Genetically identical individuals can exhibit phenotypic variations.
  • Microbial communities (microbiomes) play a crucial role in host health and disease.
  • Variations in host responses to pathogens are increasingly linked to microbiome differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of microbiome variations on host susceptibility to infection.
  • To demonstrate how differences in gut microbiota can influence disease outcomes in otherwise identical hosts.
  • To provide an example of microbiome-mediated differences in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of genetically similar mouse cohorts from different sources.
  • Assessment of susceptibility to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection.
  • Microbiome profiling (details not provided in abstract).

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in susceptibility to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection were observed between mice from different vendors.
  • These variations were attributed to differences in the mice's respective microbiomes.
  • The study provides a concrete example of microbiome influence on pathogen response.

Conclusions:

  • Microbiome composition is a critical factor determining host susceptibility to specific bacterial infections.
  • Even in controlled genetic backgrounds, microbial communities can drive significant differences in disease outcomes.
  • Understanding host-microbiome interactions is essential for predicting and managing infectious disease risks.

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