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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure

Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure

Published on: December 13, 2024

Generating Mice with Diverse Microbial Experience.

Mark Pierson¹, Anne Merley², Sara E Hamilton¹

¹Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Current Protocols

|February 23, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Introducing diverse microbes to lab mice enhances immune system relevance. This study details methods for exposing mice to pet store microbes and analyzing immune responses, improving research applicability.

Keywords:

T cells microbial diversity microbiome mouse model serology

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Last Updated: Nov 16, 2025

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Area of Science:

Immunology
Microbiology
Animal Models

Background:

Laboratory mice are housed in specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions for experimental consistency.
SPF housing limits microbial exposure, reducing physiological relevance to humans.
Exposure to diverse microbes can significantly alter mouse immune system development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline procedures for exposing laboratory mice to a wide range of microbes found in pet store mice.
To describe methods for characterizing the immune system after microbial exposure.
To enhance the physiological relevance of mouse models in immunological research.

Main Methods:

Basic Protocol 1: Cohousing laboratory mice with pet store mice.
Support Protocol: Antibody staining of circulating immune cells and flow cytometry analysis.
Basic Protocol 2: Exposing laboratory mice to fomite bedding from pet store mice.

Main Results:

Cohousing and fomite bedding effectively introduce diverse microbial communities to laboratory mice.
Antibody staining and flow cytometry reveal significant alterations in circulating immune cell populations and function.
These methods allow for the characterization of immune system changes induced by microbial exposure.

Conclusions:

Exposure to pet store-associated microbes can modulate the immune system of laboratory mice.
The described protocols provide reproducible methods for increasing the microbial diversity in mouse models.
This approach enhances the translational relevance of mouse studies for human health.