title: MiniBioReactor Arrays (MBRAs) as a Tool for Studying C. difficile Physiology in the Presence of a Complex Community.
abstract: The commensal microbiome plays an important role in the dynamics of Clostridium difficile infection. In this chapter, we describe minibioreactor arrays (MBRAs), an in vitro cultivation system that we developed that allows for C. difficile physiology to be assayed in the presence of complex fecal microbial communities. The small size of the bioreactors within the MBRAs allows for dozens of reactors to be run simultaneously and therefore several different variables can be tested with limited time and cost. When coupled with experiments in animal models of C. difficile infection, MBRAs can provide important insights into C. difficile physiology and pathogenesis.
authors: Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Jennifer.Auchtung@bcm.edu.
authors: Jennifer M
authors: JM
authors: Auchtung
authors: Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Institute for Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
authors: Catherine D
authors: CD
authors: Robinson
authors: Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors: Kylie
authors: K
authors: Farrell
authors: Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Britton
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019149:Bioreactors; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D002981:Clindamycin; C007084:clindamycin phosphate
keywords: Bioreactors; Clostridium difficile; In vitro; Microbial ecology; Microbiome