The Altered Schaedler Flora: Continued Applications of a Defined Murine Microbial Community.
The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota forms a mutualistic relationship with the host through complex and dynamic interactions. Because of the complexity and interindividual variation of the GI microbiota, investigating how members of the microbiota interact with each other, as well as with the host, is daunting. The altered Schaedler flora (ASF) is a model community of eight microorganisms that was developed by R.P. Orcutt and has been in use since the late 1970s. The eight microorganisms composing the ASF were all derived from mice, can be cultured in vitro, and are stably passed through multiple generations (at least 15 years or more by the authors) in gnotobiotic mice continually bred in isolator facilities. With the limitations associated with conventional, mono- or biassociated, and germfree mice, use of mice colonized with a consortium of known bacteria that naturally inhabit the murine gut offers a powerful system to investigate mechanisms governing host-microbiota relationships, and how members of the GI microbiota interact with one another. The ASF community offers significant advantages to study homeostatic as well as disease-related interactions by taking advantage of a well-defined, limited community of microorganisms. For example, quantification and spatial distribution of individual members, microbial genetic manipulation, genomic-scale analysis, and identification of microorganism-specific host immune responses are all achievable using the ASF model. This review compiles highlights associated with the 37-year history of the ASF, including descriptions of its continued use in biomedical research to elucidate the complexities of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease.
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Meghan
M
Wymore Brand
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Michael J
MJ
Wannemuehler
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Gregory J
GJ
Phillips
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Alexandra
A
Proctor
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Anne-Marie
AM
Overstreet
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Albert E
AE
Jergens
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Roger P
RP
Orcutt
Meghan Wymore Brand, DVM, is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Michael J. Wannemuehler, MS, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Gregory J. Phillips, MA, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Alexandra Proctor is a graduate student in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Anne-Marie Overstreet, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend in South Bend, Indiana. Albert E. Jergens, DVM, MS, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Roger P. Orcutt, PhD, is a consultant at Biomedical Research Associates in Dunkirk, New York. James G. Fox, MS, DVM, is Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine and Professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
James G
JG
Fox
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005856:Germ-Free Life / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice
ASF; gnotobiotic; microbiota