A defined bacterial community restores immunity in germ-free mice via maturation of the intestinal vascular system

The intestinal microbiota constitutes one of the most important symbiotic relationships between animals and microbes. The host provides nutrients and protection while gut microbes shape animal physiology and evolution. Gnotobiology research has expanded our knowledge on microbial-host interactions b...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Romero Perez, Rossana Victoria
Contributors: Steinhoff, Ulrich (Prof. Dr.) (Thesis advisor)
Format: Doctoral Thesis
Language:English
Published: Philipps-Universität Marburg 2021
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Summary:The intestinal microbiota constitutes one of the most important symbiotic relationships between animals and microbes. The host provides nutrients and protection while gut microbes shape animal physiology and evolution. Gnotobiology research has expanded our knowledge on microbial-host interactions by allowing the identification and cultivation of isolated members of the gut microbiota to administrate into gnotobiotic animals. In the current study, we identified a minimal bacterial consortium consisting of 14 isolated commensals (OMM12+MC2) that restored immunocompetence in germ-free mice to eliminate Citrobacter rodentium infections. While germ-free animals exhibited an impaired neutrophil migration into the colon during infection, the addition of OMM12+MC2 bacteria promoted intestinal endothelial activation and angiogenesis to ensure a proper leukocyte migration and pathogen elimination. Moreover, in a proof-of-concept approach, OMM12+MC2 bacteria also showed potential therapeutic properties by promoting C. rodentium elimination in asymptomatic carrier mice. This study contributes to the understanding of how gut microbes modulate the maturation of the intestinal vascular system to favor the elimination of an enteric pathogen and provides evidence that selected commensals can potentially be used to treat persistent enteric infections.
Physical Description:138 Pages
DOI:10.17192/z2022.0138