Host-microbe Interface
Host-microbe Interface - Related Videos
10:24
Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
0 Views •
Cited by 7 •
2018
Gut host-microbe interactions were assessed using a novel approach combining a synthetic oral community, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and a model of the small intestine epithelium. We present a method that can be adapted to evaluate cell invasion of pathogens and multi-species biofilms, or even to test probiotic formulations' survivability.
11:58
The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans - A Versatile In Vivo Model to Study Host-microbe Interactions
0 Views •
Cited by 10 •
2017
Here, we present the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a versatile host model to study microbial interaction.
09:02
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
0 Views •
Cited by 6 •
2023
The nasal epithelium is the primary barrier site encountered by all respiratory pathogens. Here, we outline methods to use primary nasal epithelial cells grown as air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures to characterize human coronavirus-host interactions in a physiologically relevant system.
15:27
Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite (Zootermopsis Angusticollis) and Visualizing Gut Microbes
0 Views •
Cited by 17 •
2007
This video illustrates the technique for extracting DNA from the species of microbes resident in the termite hindgut. The preparation of a wet mount slide, which is useful for visualizing the gut microbial community is also illustrated, and a tour through the species-rich gut environment is given.
01:26
Microbes and Methanogenesis
0 Views •
2026
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
FAQs
Microbial metabolites can alter host signaling, while microbial surface molecules provide additional cues. Host receptors detect these inputs and connect them to immune pathways. The resulting signaling can influence whether local tissues support colonization, maintain barrier function, or develop inflammation. This makes the interface a useful target for bioengineered models that isolate particular signal combinations.
Local oxygen levels, pH, and nutrient availability shape the conditions under which microorganisms interact with host tissues. Changes in these variables can affect microbial activity and alter the signals encountered by host receptors and immune pathways. Bioengineering studies can therefore control these environmental parameters to examine how specific conditions influence colonization, inflammation, or barrier function.
Host receptors translate microbial metabolites and surface-molecule signals into cellular responses through immune pathways. Those responses help determine how host physiology changes during microbial contact, including effects on inflammation and barrier function. In bioengineering, examining these pathways helps researchers connect a defined microbial input with a measurable host outcome rather than treating the microbial community as an unexplained whole.
Organ-on-a-chip systems provide bioengineered models for examining host and microbial interactions under controlled conditions. Researchers can use them to study how signals, local environments, and cellular responses combine at an interface that is difficult to isolate in more complex settings. These models support investigation of disease mechanisms and evaluation of potential therapeutics.
Engineered microbial communities and synthetic biology allow researchers to redesign selected features of host-microbe interactions. By working with defined microbial populations or biologically programmed components, investigators can examine how particular microbial signals affect host pathways. These approaches support the development of probiotics and living medicines while providing controlled systems for testing interface-level mechanisms.
Research on the host-microbe interface supports several bioengineering goals, including disease-mechanism studies, therapeutic testing, probiotic development, living medicines, and tissue-repair strategies. Each application uses the interaction between microbial signals and host responses as a design opportunity. The desired outcome may be improved barrier function, altered inflammation, or a targeted physiological effect.