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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Bacteriophage Effectiveness for Biocontrol of Foodborne Pathogens Evaluated via High-Throughput Settings

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Published on: August 19, 2021

Comparing In Vitro Faecal Fermentation Methods as Surrogates for Phage Therapy Application.

Norbert Ács¹, Ross Holohan¹, Laura J Dunne¹

¹APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.

|December 23, 2022

Summary

Bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, can be studied using simple in vitro fermentation systems. These systems accurately reflect short-term impacts of bacteriophage transplants on gut bacteria and viruses.

Keywords:

bacteriome bacteriophage faecal fermentation human gut microbiome phageome

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Last Updated: Aug 16, 2025

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An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota

Published on: July 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Virology
Gastroenterology

Background:

The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in health and disease.
Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial viruses abundant in the gut microbiome.
Disruptions in gut microbial composition are linked to intestinal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and compare in vitro fecal fermentation systems as surrogates for the human colon.
To investigate the impact of bacteriophage introduction on bacterial and viral gut communities.
To assess the suitability of simple 50 mL tubes for short-term phage-bacteria interaction studies.

Main Methods:

Development of in vitro fecal fermentation systems.
Introduction of a high-titer single phage preparation into fermentation systems.
Analysis of bacterial and viral composition changes over 24 hours.
Comparison of data from simple 50 mL tubes and sophisticated fermenters.

Main Results:

In vitro fermentation systems were established as surrogates for the human colon.
Significant changes in bacterial and viral composition were observed after phage introduction.
50 mL plastic tubes provided data comparable to advanced fermenter systems within 24 hours.
The presence or absence of a bacterial host influenced phage impact.

Conclusions:

Simple in vitro systems can effectively model short-term bacteriophage dynamics in the gut.
This research provides a foundation for understanding bacteriophage transplants in human recipients.
Further studies can utilize these methods to explore phage therapy and gut microbiome modulation.