title: Germ-Free Mice Model for Studying Host-Microbial Interactions.
abstract: Germ-free (GF) mice are a relevant model system to study host-microbial interactions in health and disease. In this chapter, we underscore the importance of using GF mice model to study host-microbial interactions in obesity, immune development and gastrointestinal physiology by reviewing current literature. Furthermore, we also provide a brief protocol on how to setup a gnotobiotic facility in order to properly maintain and assess GF status in mice colonies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bhattarai
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. kashyap.purna@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Purna C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kashyap
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061245:Axenic Culture; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007109:Immunity; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000382:microbiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
keywords: Germ-free; Gnotobiotic; Gut microbiome