Protocol for microbiota analysis of a murine stroke model.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Research into the role of the microbiota in neurological diseases, including stroke, is growing.
• Stroke researchers may lack specialized experience in designing and executing microbiota studies.
• Standardized protocols are needed to ensure robust and reproducible findings in this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a detailed protocol for conducting microbiota studies in experimental stroke models in mice.
• To guide researchers through the entire process, from stroke induction to data analysis.
• To facilitate the identification of microbial signatures associated with stroke.

Main Methods:

• Experimental stroke surgery in mice.
• Collection and processing of biological samples (e.g., feces, blood, tissue).
• Microbiota sequencing (e.g., 16S rRNA gene sequencing).
• Development of a reproducible bioinformatic pipeline for data analysis.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive protocol for stroke-associated microbiota research in mice is described.
• Detailed methods for sample handling, sequencing, and data analysis are provided.
• The protocol is designed to be reproducible and enable robust study outcomes.

Conclusions:

• This protocol empowers researchers to conduct rigorous investigations into the stroke microbiota.
• It aims to standardize methodologies, facilitating the discovery of stroke-associated microbial patterns.
• Adoption of this protocol can advance our understanding of the gut-brain axis in stroke.