Intestinal Organoids as Models to Study Viruses: Current Application and Future Perspective

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Gastroenterology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Intestinal organoids offer a 3D model of the human gut epithelium, surpassing traditional cell lines and animal models.
• They capture cellular diversity, architecture, and functions crucial for studying enteric viruses.
• This technology bridges the gap between in vitro and in vivo research models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of intestinal organoids in virology research.
• To highlight advancements in studying enteric virus infections and host-pathogen interactions.
• To discuss emerging technologies enhancing organoid models for infectious disease research.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing intestinal organoids to cultivate and study enteric viruses.
• Employing co-culture systems for host-microbiome interactions.
• Integrating techniques like vascularization and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing with organoids.

Main Results:

• Successful cultivation of previously uncultivable human norovirus.
• Gained critical insights into infection mechanisms of rotavirus, enterovirus A71, and SARS-CoV-2.
• Demonstrated organoids' potential for studying complex virus-host interactions.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal organoids are a powerful tool for enteric virus research, offering physiological relevance.
• Emerging technologies are enhancing organoid models for more comprehensive studies.
• Despite challenges, organoids promise advancements in antiviral screening and personalized infectious disease research.