Investigating causality with fecal microbiota transplantation in rodents: applications, recommendations and pitfalls
Gut Microbes. 2021-01-01; 13(1):
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1941711
Lire sur PubMed
1. Gut Microbes. 2021 Jan-Dec;13(1):1941711. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1941711.
Investigating causality with fecal microbiota transplantation in rodents:
applications, recommendations and pitfalls.
Gheorghe CE(1)(2)(3), Ritz NL(2)(3), Martin JA(1)(3), Wardill HR(4)(5), Cryan
JF(1)(2)(3), Clarke G(1)(3)(6).
Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College
Cork, Cork, Ireland.
(2)Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork,
Ireland.
(3)APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
(4)Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
(SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia.
(5)Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
(6)INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
In recent years, studies investigating the role of the gut microbiota in health
and diseases have increased enormously – making it essential to deepen and
question the research methodology employed. Fecal microbiota transplantation
(FMT) in rodent studies (either from human or animal donors) allows us to better
understand the causal role of the intestinal microbiota across multiple fields.
However, this technique lacks standardization and requires careful experimental
design in order to obtain optimal results. By comparing several studies in which
rodents are the final recipients of FMT, we summarize the common practices
employed. In this review, we document the limitations of this method and
highlight different parameters to be considered while designing FMT Studies.
Standardizing this method is challenging, as it differs according to the
research topic, but avoiding common pitfalls is feasible. Several methodological
questions remain unanswered to this day and we offer a discussion on issues to
be explored in future studies.
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1941711
PMCID: PMC8331043
PMID: 34328058 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Conflict of interest statement: Gerard Clarke has spoken at meetings sponsored
by food (Probi) and pharmaceutical companies (Janssen Ireland) and received
research funding from Pharmavite, and this support neither influenced nor
constrained the contents of this manuscript and John F. Cryan received research
support from Cremo, Pharmavite, Dupont and Nutricia and has spoken at meetings
sponsored by food and pharmaceutical companies, and this support neither
influenced nor constrained the contents of this manuscript. Cassandra E.
Gheorghe, Nathaniel L. Ritz, Jason A. Martin and Hannah R. Wardill declare they
have no competing interests.