Making gut microbiomes from scratch

Studying the microbiome presents a challenge: how do we untangle the interactions of microbes at ecologically relevant scales? We highlight research by Afrizal et al. and Cheng et al., which help to solve this problem through the generation and characterization of complex synthetic communities derived from lab-grown microbes. Studying the microbiome presents a challenge: how do we untangle the interactions of microbes at ecologically relevant scales? We highlight research by Afrizal et al. and Cheng et al., which help to solve this problem through the generation and characterization of complex synthetic communities derived from lab-grown microbes. Enhanced cultured diversity of the mouse gut microbiota enables custom-made synthetic communitiesAfrizal et al.Cell Host & MicrobeOctober 7, 2022In BriefAfrizal, Jennings, Hitch, et al. present a collection of cultured bacteria from the mouse intestine. As yet undescribed species are named, including small-sized bacteria within a so far unknown family. These publicly available isolates enable functional studies based on synthetic communities, including the Oligo-MM19.1 reference model. Full-Text PDF Open AccessDesign, construction, and in vivo augmentation of a complex gut microbiomeCheng et al.CellSeptember 6, 2022In BriefThe development of a complex community of bacteria that represents the most common taxa from the human microbiome enables further mechanistic study of genes, pathways, and species that influence host physiology and health. Full-Text PDF