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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Recent advances in host-focused molecular tools for investigating host-gut microbiome interactions
Siyao Wang1,2, Xu Gong1,2, Fei Xiao3
1Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Microbial communities in the human gut play a significant role in regulating host gene expression, influencing a variety of biological processes. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions, tools that can dissect signaling networks are required. In this review, we discuss recent advances in molecular tools used to study this interplay, with a focus on those that explore how the microbiome regulates host gene expression. These tools include CRISPR-based whole-body genetic tools for deciphering host-specific genes involved in the interaction process, Cre-loxP based tissue/cell-specific gene editing approaches, and in vitro models of host-derived organoids. Overall, the application of these molecular tools is revolutionizing our understanding of how host-microbiome interactions contribute to health and disease, paving the way for improved therapies and interventions that target microbial influences on the host.
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