Name: a double humanized blt-mice model featuring a stable human-like gut microbiome and human immune system
Uploaded: 2019-08-30T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Double Humanized BLT-mice Model Featuring a Stable Human-Like Gut Microbiome and Human Immune System at JoVE.com

We would like to thank Yanmin Wan, Guobin Kang, and Pallabi Kundu for their assistance in generating BLT-humanized mice. We would like to acknowledge the UNMC Genomics Core Facility who receives partial support from the Nebraska Research Network In Functional Genomics NE-INBRE P20GM103427-14, The Molecular Biology of Neurosensory Systems CoBRE P30GM110768, The Fred &#38; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center - P30CA036727, The Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation (CRRI) 36-5150-2085-20, and the Nebraska Research Initiative. We would like to thank University of Nebraska - Lincoln Life Sciences Annex and their staff for their assistance. This study is supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants R01AI124804, R21AI122377-01, P30 MH062261-16A1 Chronic HIV Infection and Aging in NeuroAIDS (CHAIN) Center, 1R01AI111862 to Q Li.&#160; The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, preparation of the manuscript or decision for publication.

All methods described here were conducted in accordance with Institutional Animal Care and Research Committee (IACUC)-approved protocols at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The IACUC at UNL has approved two protocols related to generating and using hu-BLT mice, including double hu-mice. Additionally, the Scientific Research Oversight Committee (SROC) at UNL has also approved the use of human embryonic stem cells and fetal tissues, which are procured from the Advanced Bioscience Resources for humanized mice studi...

<ol>
	<li>Simpson-Abelson, M. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+engraftment+and+expansion+of+tumor-derived+memory+T+cells+following+the+implantation+of+non-disrupted+pieces+of+human+lung+tumor+into+NOD-scid+IL2R+gamma(null)+mice.">Long-term engraftment and expansion of tumor-derived memory T cells following the implantation of non-disrupted pieces of human lung tumor into NOD-scid IL2R gamma(null) mice.</a> Journal of Immunology. 180 (10), 7009-7018 (2008).</li><li>Bankert, R. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Humanized+Mouse+Model+of+Ovarian+Cancer+Recapitulates+Patient+Solid+Tumor+Progression,+Ascites+Formation,+and+Metastasis.">Humanized Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer Recapitulates Patient Solid Tumor Progression, Ascites Formation, and Metastasis.</a> PLoS One. 6 (9), (2011).</li><li>Vudattu, N. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Humanized+Mice+as+a+Model+for+Aberrant+Responses+in+Human+T+Cell+Immunotherapy.">Humanized Mice as a Model for Aberrant Responses in Human T Cell Immunotherapy.</a> Journal of Immunology. 193 (2), 587-596 (2014).</li><li>Whitfield-Larry, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HLA-A2+Matched+Peripheral+Blood+Mononuclear+Cells+From+Type+1+Diabetic+Patients,+but+Not+Nondiabetic+Donors,+Transfer+Insulitis+to+NOD-scid/gamma+c(null)/HLA-A2+Transgenic+Mice+Concurrent+With+the+Expansion+of+Islet-Specific+CD8(+)+T+cells.">HLA-A2 Matched Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Type 1 Diabetic Patients, but Not Nondiabetic Donors, Transfer Insulitis to NOD-scid/gamma c(null)/HLA-A2 Transgenic Mice Concurrent With the Expansion of Islet-Specific CD8(+) T cells.</a> Diabetes. 60 (6), 1726-1733 (2011).</li><li>Yi, G. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+DNA+Vaccine+Protects+Human+Immune+Cells+against+Zika+Virus+Infection+in+Humanized+Mice.">A DNA Vaccine Protects Human Immune Cells against Zika Virus Infection in Humanized Mice.</a> EBioMedicine. 25, 87-94 (2017).</li><li>Stary, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+mucosal+vaccine+against+Chlamydia+trachomatis+generates+two+waves+of+protective+memory+T+cells.">A mucosal vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis generates two waves of protective memory T cells.</a> Science. 348 (6241), (2015).</li><li>Sun, Z. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intrarectal+transmission,+systemic+infection,+and+CD4(+)+T+cell+depletion+in+humanized+mice+infected+with+HIV-1.">Intrarectal transmission, systemic infection, and CD4(+) T cell depletion in humanized mice infected with HIV-1.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 204 (4), 705-714 (2007).</li><li>Wang, L. X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Humanized-BLT+mouse+model+of+Kaposi's+sarcoma-associated+herpesvirus+infection.">Humanized-BLT mouse model of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111 (8), 3146-3151 (2014).</li><li>Ernst, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Humanized+mice+in+infectious+diseases.">Humanized mice in infectious diseases.</a> Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 49, 29-38 (2016).</li><li>Turnbaugh, P. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+obesity-associated+gut+microbiome+with+increased+capacity+for+energy+harvest.">An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest.</a> Nature. 444 (7122), 1027-1031 (2006).</li><li>Gopalakrishnan, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gut+microbiome+modulates+response+to+anti-PD-1+immunotherapy+in+melanoma+patients.">Gut microbiome modulates response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients.</a> Science. 359 (6371), 97-103 (2018).</li><li>Routy, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gut+microbiome+influences+efficacy+of+PD-1-based+immunotherapy+against+epithelial+tumors.">Gut microbiome influences efficacy of PD-1-based immunotherapy against epithelial tumors.</a> Science. 359 (6371), (2018).</li><li>Clemente, J. C., Manasson, J., Scher, J. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+the+gut+microbiome+in+systemic+inflammatory+disease.">The role of the gut microbiome in systemic inflammatory disease.</a> Bmj-British Medical Journal. 360, (2018).</li><li>Kau, A. L., Ahern, P. P., Griffin, N. W., Goodman, A. L., Gordon, J. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+nutrition,+the+gut+microbiome+and+the+immune+system.">Human nutrition, the gut microbiome and the immune system.</a> Nature. 474 (7351), 327-336 (2011).</li><li>Hooper, L. V., Littman, D. R., Macpherson, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Interactions+Between+the+Microbiota+and+the+Immune+System.">Interactions Between the Microbiota and the Immune System.</a> Science. 336 (6086), 1268-1273 (2012).</li><li>Maynard, C. L., Elson, C. O., Hatton, R. D., Weaver, C. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reciprocal+interactions+of+the+intestinal+microbiota+and+immune+system.">Reciprocal interactions of the intestinal microbiota and immune system.</a> Nature. 489 (7415), 231-241 (2012).</li><li>Xiao, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+catalog+of+the+mouse+gut+metagenome.">A catalog of the mouse gut metagenome.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 33 (10), 1103 (2015).</li><li>Nguyen, T. L. A., Vieira-Silva, S., Liston, A., Raes, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+informative+is+the+mouse+for+human+gut+microbiota+research.">How informative is the mouse for human gut microbiota research.</a> Disease Models &amp; Mechanisms. 8 (1), 1-16 (2015).</li><li>Turnbaugh, P. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Effect+of+Diet+on+the+Human+Gut+Microbiome:+A+Metagenomic+Analysis+in+Humanized+Gnotobiotic+Mice.">The Effect of Diet on the Human Gut Microbiome: A Metagenomic Analysis in Humanized Gnotobiotic Mice.</a> Science Translational Medicine. 1 (6), (2009).</li><li>Hazenberg, M. P., Bakker, M., Verschoor-Burggraaf, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+the+human+intestinal+flora+on+germ-free+mice.">Effects of the human intestinal flora on germ-free mice.</a> Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 50 (1), 95-106 (1981).</li><li>Hansen, C. H. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patterns+of+Early+Gut+Colonization+Shape+Future+Immune+Responses+of+the+Host.">Patterns of Early Gut Colonization Shape Future Immune Responses of the Host.</a> PLoS One. 7 (3), (2012).</li><li>Lan, P., Tonomura, N., Shimizu, A., Wang, S. M., Yang, Y. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reconstitution+of+a+functional+human+immune+system+in+immunodeficient+mice+through+combined+human+fetal+thymus/liver+and+CD34(+)+cell+transplantation.">Reconstitution of a functional human immune system in immunodeficient mice through combined human fetal thymus/liver and CD34(+) cell transplantation.</a> Blood. 108 (2), 487-492 (2006).</li><li>Li, Q. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+Initiation+of+Antiretroviral+Therapy+Can+Functionally+Control+Productive+HIV-1+Infection+in+Humanized-BLT+Mice.">Early Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Can Functionally Control Productive HIV-1 Infection in Humanized-BLT Mice.</a> Jaids-Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 69 (5), 519-527 (2015).</li><li>Brainard, D. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induction+of+Robust+Cellular+and+Humoral+Virus-Specific+Adaptive+Immune+Responses+in+Human+Immunodeficiency+Virus-Infected+Humanized+BLT+Mice.">Induction of Robust Cellular and Humoral Virus-Specific Adaptive Immune Responses in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Humanized BLT Mice.</a> Journal of Virology. 83 (14), 7305-7321 (2009).</li><li>Greenblatt, M. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Graft+versus+Host+Disease+in+the+Bone+Marrow,+Liver+and+Thymus+Humanized+Mouse+Model.">Graft versus Host Disease in the Bone Marrow, Liver and Thymus Humanized Mouse Model.</a> PLoS One. 7 (9), (2012).</li><li>Hintze, K. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Broad+scope+method+for+creating+humanized+animal+models+for+animal+health+and+disease+research+through+antibiotic+treatment+and+human+fecal+transfer.">Broad scope method for creating humanized animal models for animal health and disease research through antibiotic treatment and human fecal transfer.</a> Gut Microbes. 5 (2), 183-191 (2014).</li><li>Ericsson, A. C., Personett, A. R., Turner, G., Dorfmeyer, R. A., Franklin, C. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Variable+Colonization+after+Reciprocal+Fecal+Microbiota+Transfer+between+Mice+with+Low+and+High+Richness+Microbiota.">Variable Colonization after Reciprocal Fecal Microbiota Transfer between Mice with Low and High Richness Microbiota.</a> Frontiers in Microbiology. 8, 1-13 (2017).</li><li>Ellekilde, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfer+of+gut+microbiota+from+lean+and+obese+mice+to+antibiotic-treated+mice.">Transfer of gut microbiota from lean and obese mice to antibiotic-treated mice.</a> Scientific Reports. 4, (2014).</li><li>Staley, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+engraftment+of+human+microbiota+into+mice+with+a+single+oral+gavage+following+antibiotic+conditioning.">Stable engraftment of human microbiota into mice with a single oral gavage following antibiotic conditioning.</a> Microbiome. 5, (2017).</li><li>Zhou, W., Chow, K. H., Fleming, E., Oh, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Selective+colonization+ability+of+human+fecal+microbes+in+different+mouse+gut+environments.">Selective colonization ability of human fecal microbes in different mouse gut environments.</a> ISME J. , (2018).</li><li>Lundberg, R., Toft, M. F., August, B., Hansen, A. K., Hansen, C. H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antibiotic-treated+versus+germ-free+rodents+for+microbiota+transplantation+studies.">Antibiotic-treated versus germ-free rodents for microbiota transplantation studies.</a> Gut Microbes. 7 (1), 68-74 (2016).</li><li>Wos-Oxley, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+evaluation+of+establishing+a+human+gut+microbial+community+within+rodent+models.">Comparative evaluation of establishing a human gut microbial community within rodent models.</a> Gut Microbes. 3 (3), 234-249 (2012).</li></ol>

The protocol described here is for the creation of double hu-BLT mice that feature both a functional human immune system and a stable human-like gut microbiome. This protocol can be adapted to other humanized or non-humanized mice models without the need for GF animals and gnotobiotic facilities. While the methods described here are relatively simple, there are several critical details that are important for the successful creation of double hu-BLT mice. NSG mice are extremely immunodeficient and preventing infections is...

Humanized mice (hu-mice) have transformed the study of many aspects of human health and disease including hematopoiesis, immunity, cancer, autoimmune disease, and infectious disease1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. These hu-mice have the distinct advantage over other mouse models in that they have a functional human immune system and can be infected with human specific pathogens. Nevertheless, the importance of the gut microbiome has been demonstrated by its role in many human diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory diseases, and cancer10,11,12,13. The mucosal immune system and gut microbiome are reciprocally regulated to maintain gut and systemic homeostasis. The immune system is shaped by antigens presented by the gut microbiome and reciprocally the immune system plays an important regulatory role in promoting commensal gut bacteria and eliminating pathogens14,15,16. However, the gut microbiome of hu-mice has not been well characterized and the murine gut microbiome differs substantially in composition and function from humans17. This is due to evolutionary, physiological, and anatomical differences between the murine and human gut as well as other important factors such as diet, which may influence the experimental results of hu-mice disease models18. Therefore, beyond classification of murine gut microbiome of hu-mice, an animal model featuring both a human immune system and human gut microbiome is needed to study the complex interactions of human disease in vivo.
The study of human diseases directly in human subjects is often impractical or unethical. Many animal models cannot be used to study human pathogens like human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Non-human primate models are genetically outbred, very expensive, and are not susceptible to many human pathogens. Mice that have been derived as germ free (GF) and reconstituted with human-like gut microbiomes have been widely used to study human health and disease19,20. However, these animals do not have a human immune system and working with GF animals requires specialized facilities, procedures, and expertise. Therefore, there is a need for improved pre-clinical models to study the complex relationship of the gut microbiome and the human immune system. Many strains of mice, such as NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG), are not commercially available as GF. GF animals also may suffer from long-lasting immune deficiencies that are not completely reversed by the engraftment of microbes21. Therefore, we created a double hu-mice featuring both a functional human immune system and stable human-like gut microbiome under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. To generate double hu-mice, surgery was performed on NSG mice to create bone-marrow, liver, thymus humanized mice (hu-BLT). The hu-BLT mice were then treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and then given fecal transplants with a healthy human donor sample. We characterized the bacterial gut microbiome of 173 fecal samples from 45 double hu-BLT mice and 4 human fecal donor samples. Double hu-BLT mice have unique 16S rRNA gene profiles based on the individual human donor sample that is transplanted. Importantly, the transplanted human-like microbiome was stable in the mice for the duration of the study up to 14.5 weeks post-transplant. In addition, the predicted metagenomes showed that double hu-BLT mice have different predicted functional capacity than hu-mice that is more similar to the human donor samples.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:832px;" width="832">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Animal Feeding Needles 18G</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Cadence Science</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">9928B</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:337px;">Clidox-s Activator</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Pharmacal Research Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">95120F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:337px;">Clidox-s Base</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Pharmacal Research Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">96125F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">DGM 108 cage rack</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Techniplast</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:337px;">Flat Brown Grocery Bag 3-5/8&#34;D x 6&#34;W x 11-1/16&#34;L&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Grainger</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">12R063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">FMT Upper Delivery Microbiota Preparations&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">OpenBiome</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">FMP30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Grape Kool-Aid</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Kraft Foods Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">hCD19-PE/Cy5</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">302209</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">hCD3-PE</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">300408</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">hCD4-Alexa 700</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">300526</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">hCD45-FITC</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">304006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">hCD8-APC/Cy7</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">301016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Lactate Buffered Ringer&#39;s Solution</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Boston BioProducts Inc&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">PY-906-500&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">mCD45-APC</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Biolegend</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">103111</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Microvette 100 K3E</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Microvette</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">20.1278.100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:337px;">Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic/Pain Relieving Ointment</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Neosporin</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">NSG mice (NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ)</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">005557</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">PrecisionGlide 25 G Needle</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">305127</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">RS200 X-ray irradiator</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">RAD Source Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Sealsafe Plus GM500 microisolator cages</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Techniplast</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Sterile Non-woven Gauze</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Fisherbrand</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">22-028-558</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:337px;">Teklad global 16% protein irradiated mouse chow</td>
			<td style="width:225px;">Teklad</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">2916</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a double humanized blt-mice model featuring a stable human-like gut microbiome and human immune system

Humanized mice (hu-mice) that feature a functional human immune system have fundamentally changed the study of human pathogens and disease. They can be used to model diseases that are otherwise difficult or impossible to study in humans or other animal models. The gut microbiome can have a profound impact on human health and disease. However, the murine gut microbiome is very different than the one found in humans. &#160;There is a need for improved pre-clinical hu-mice models that have an engrafted human gut microbiome. Therefore, we created double hu-mice that feature both a human immune system and stable human-like gut microbiome. NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice are one of the best animals for humanization due to their high level of immunodeficiency. However, germ-free NSG mice, and various other important germ-free mice models are not currently commercially available. Further, many research settings do not have access to gnotobiotic facilities, and working under gnotobiotic conditions can often be expensive and time consuming. Importantly, germ-free mice have several immune deficiencies that exist even after the engraftment of microbes. Therefore, we developed a protocol that does not require germ-free animals or gnotobiotic facilities. To generate double hu-mice, NSG mice were treated with radiation prior to surgery to create bone-marrow, liver, thymus-humanized (hu-BLT) mice. The mice were then treated with broad spectrum antibiotics to deplete the pre-existing murine gut microbiome. After antibiotic treatment, the mice were given fecal transplants with healthy human donor samples via oral gavage. Double hu-BLT mice had unique 16S rRNA gene profiles based on the individual human donor sample that was transplanted. Importantly, the transplanted human-like microbiome was stable in the double hu-BLT mice for the duration of the study up to 14.5 weeks post-transplant.

Figure 1 shows an outline of the methods used to create double hu-BLT mice and briefly describes the process of adding a functional human immune system and stable human-like gut microbiome to the NSG mice. Figure 2 shows an example of flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood from a humanized BLT-mouse 10 weeks post-surgery. Figure 3 shows the relative abundance of the human fecal donor samples used to transfer a gut microbiome to...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Double Humanized BLT-mice Model Featuring a Stable Human-Like Gut Microbiome and Human Immune System at JoVE.com

A Double Humanized BLT-mice Model Featuring a Stable Human-Like Gut Microbiome and Human Immune System

We describe a novel method for generating double humanized BLT-mice that feature a functional human immune system and a stable engrafted human-like gut microbiome. This protocol can be followed without the need for germ-free mice or gnotobiotic facilities.

Humanized mice (hu-mice) that feature a functional human immune system have fundamentally changed the study of human pathogens and disease. They can be ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

The serotonin transporter is a sodium and chloride-coupled transporter that &#34;pumps&#34; extracellular serotonin into cells. S-citalopram is a drug ...

A Method for Measuring Metabolism in Sorted Subpopulations of Complex Cell Communities Using Stable Isotope Tracing

Mammalian cell types exhibit specialized metabolism, and there is ample evidence that various co-existing cell types engage in metabolic cooperation. ...

A Modified Yeast-one Hybrid System for Heteromeric Protein Complex-DNA Interaction Studies

Over the years, the yeast one-hybrid assay has proven to be an important technique for the identification and validation of physical interactions between ...

Protein Digestion, Ultrafiltration, and Size Exclusion Chromatography to Optimize the Isolation of Exosomes from Human Blood Plasma and Serum

Exosomes, a type of nanovesicle released from all cell types, can be isolated from any bodily fluid. The contents of exosomes, including proteins and ...

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

The interplay between host and microbiota has been long recognized and extensively described. The mouth is similar to other sections of the ...

Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis

Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of human and animal tooth enamel carbonate has been applied in paleodietary, paleoecological, and ...

Calibration-free In Vitro Quantification of Protein Homo-oligomerization Using Commercial Instrumentation and Free, Open Source Brightness Analysis Software

Calibration-free In Vitro Quantification of Protein Homo-oligomerization Using Commercial Instrumentation and Free, Open Source Brightness Analysis Software

Number and brightness is a calibration-free fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) technique for detecting protein homo-oligomerization. It can be ...

Detection of Protein Ubiquitination Sites by Peptide Enrichment and Mass Spectrometry

The posttranslational modification of proteins by the small protein ubiquitin is involved in many cellular events. After tryptic digestion of ...

Untargeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Analysis of Wheat Grain

Understanding the interactions between genes, the environment and management in agricultural practice could allow more accurate prediction and management ...

Analysis and Specification of Starch Granule Size Distributions

Starch from all plant sources are made up of granules in a range of sizes and shapes having different occurrence frequencies, i.e., exhibiting a size and ...