Microbiota Transplantation in an Antibiotic-Induced Bacterial Depletion Mouse Model: Reproducible Establishment, Analysis, and Application

Abstract

The fecal bacteria transplantation (FMT) technique is indispensable when exploring the pathogenesis and potential treatments for microbiota-related diseases. For FMT clinical treatments, there are already systematic guidelines for donor selection, fecal bacterial separation, FMT frequency, and infusion methods. However, only a few studies have demonstrated the use of standardized FMT procedures for animal models used in theoretical research, creating difficulties for many new researchers in this field. In the present paper, we provide a brief overview of FMT and discuss its contribution to the current understanding of disease mechanisms that relate to microbiota. This protocol can be used to generate a commonly used FMT mouse model and provides a literature reference of customizable steps.

Antibiotic Conditioning Shapes Pseudosterile Mouse Models by Deleting Colonic Microbes Rather than Small Intestinal Microbes

“…Antibiotic-conditioned mice well depleted the number and composition of gut microbiota ( 11 ). However, whether these responses were directed at the entire gut or specific parts of the gut was not clear.…”

“…The remaining challenges of germfree mice can be summarized as follows: (i) the cost of maintaining germfree mouse population acquisition and persistence is expensive ( 8 ); (ii) the absence of the microbiota may lead to persistent negative immune and metabolic consequences in germfree mice ( 9 , 10 ); and (iii) many genotypic mouse models do not have a germfree option ( 7 ). To overcome these limitations, some researchers attempted to achieve a nearly sterile state by selectively depleting intestinal microbes using antibiotics; mice obtained in this form are known as pseudosterile mice ( 7 , 8 , 11 ). The pseudosterile mice effectively circumvent the limitations of the sterile mouse model ( 12 ).…”

Gut microbiota-derived ursodeoxycholic acid alleviates low birth weight-induced colonic inflammation by enhancing M2 macrophage polarization

“…These differences may be caused by different breeds (Landrace × Yorkshire vs Duroc × (Landrace × Large White)), different sampling time points (day 3 after birth vs day 2 after birth), and different feces sampling methods (slaughter for rectal sample collection vs fresh feces sample collected by a sterile cotton swab) in the present study. FMT can provide new intuitive evidence for the mechanisms of gut microbiota-related diseases [ 49 ]. After FMT, despite that the recipient mice did not harbor a microbial community equal to the LBW and NBW donor newborn piglet, our results presented the different colonization of BA metabolism-related microbiome between LBW-FMT and NBW-FMT mice, reflected by the differences in intestinal BA-metabolizing enzyme (7α-HSDH and 7β-HSDH) and intestinal BA profile.…”

Unraveling the Gut Microbiota: Key Insights into its Role in Gastrointestinal and Cardiovascular Health

“…This study underscores the potential of therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiota for managing CVDs [33]. A study by Lijun Shang et al investigated gut microbiota modulation by antibiotics or FMT on cardiac function and remodeling in a mouse myocardial infarction (MI) model [34][35][36][37][38][39]. The results showed that antibiotics and FMT improved cardiac function and reduced adverse remodeling after MI [34].…”

“…Etiologically, they highlight the nature of interactions between gut microbiota and cancer [32]. While the exact mechanisms remain elusive, the intestinal microbiota's role in tumor occurrence, progression, and treatment response is critical [32][33][34]. This underscores the potential of targeting the microbiota in medicine and immunotherapy [32].…”