Mouse microbiomes: overlooked culprits of experimental variability

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.