Transfer of gut microbiota from lean and obese mice to antibiotic-treated mice

Abstract

Transferring gut microbiota from one individual to another may enable researchers to “humanize” the gut of animal models and transfer phenotypes between species. To date, most studies of gut microbiota transfer are performed in germ-free mice. In the studies presented, it was tested whether an antibiotic treatment approach could be used instead. C57BL/6 mice were treated with ampicillin prior to inoculation at weaning or eight weeks of age with gut microbiota from lean or obese donors. The gut microbiota and clinical parameters of the recipients was characterized one and six weeks after inoculation. The results demonstrate, that the donor gut microbiota was introduced, established, and changed the gut microbiota of the recipients. Six weeks after inoculation, the differences persisted, however alteration of the gut microbiota occurred with time within the groups. The clinical parameters of the donor phenotype were partly transmissible from obese to lean mice, in particularly β cell hyperactivity in the obese recipients. Thus, a successful inoculation of gut microbiota was not age dependent in order for the microbes to colonize, and transferring different microbial compositions to conventional antibiotic-treated mice was possible at least for a time period during which the microbiota may permanently modulate important host functions.

Altered gut microbiota by voluntary exercise induces high physical activity in high-fat diet mice

“…Most studies of gut microbiota transfer have been performed in germ-free mice. However, a recent study showed that transferring different microbial compositions to conventional antibiotic-treated mice was possible and that the microbiota modulate host functions 16) . Taken together, these results suggest that exercise-induced high physical activity might be transmitted to un-exercised high-fat diet mice via the altered gut microbiota.…”

Characterisation of Early-Life Fecal Microbiota in Susceptible and Healthy Pigs to Post-Weaning Diarrhoea

“…Additionally Prevotella and, in a less extent, Bacteroides represent the major genera in Bacteoroidetes phylum in weaned pigs [10]. Their great relative abundance observed after weaning has been related to their capacity to produce enzymes that degrade plant polysaccharides [58,59]. Therefore the higher abundance of Bacteroidetes may allow H pigs to better adapt to post-weaning dietary conditions.…”

Orai1-Mediated Antimicrobial Secretion from Pancreatic Acini Shapes the Gut Microbiome and Regulates Gut Innate Immunity

“…Cecal contents from donor mice were collected aseptically and diluted in 100μl of sterile PBS and kept at at −80ºC. Thawed samples were diluted 1:50 in sterile PBS and 150 μl were inoculate to Orai1 −/− mice on PLD by gavage (Ellekilde et al, 2014). …”