Organoids as host models for infection biology - a review of methods

Infectious diseases are a major threat worldwide. With the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance and emergence of new potential pathogens, a better understanding of the infection process is urgently needed. Over the last century, the development of in vitro and in vivo models has led to remarkable contributions to the current knowledge in the field of infection biology. However, applying recent advances in organoid culture technology to research infectious diseases is now taking the field to a higher level of complexity. Here, we describe the current methods available for the study of infectious diseases using organoid cultures. Infectious diseases: Mini-organ studies could facilitate personalized treatments Using miniaturized, three-dimensional versions of organs and tissues to model infectious diseases could improve understanding of patient-specific responses and inform personalized therapies. Organoid cultures are generated from tissue-specific adult stem cells, and recreate some of the original cellular structure of a given organ or tissue. They also mimic the organ's molecular mechanisms and responses. Sina Bartfeld at the Julius Maximilians Universitat Wurzburg, Germany, and coworkers reviewed recent research into organoid cultures for modeling infections and disease progression. Creating organoids from different individuals allows scientists to monitor how infections behave in unique hosts. Organoid studies have highlighted specific targets for initial infection by bacteria, identified host factors that influence disease outcomes, and clarified patient-specific responses to treatments. Future organoids should be more complex, incorporating immune and nerve cells, and even factoring in the microbiome.

Automated summary

Infectious diseases remain a major threat globally, with antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens posing challenges. Utilizing organoid cultures for infectious disease research allows for personalized treatment approaches, by mimicking cellular structures and molecular mechanisms of organs, and providing insights into individual responses to infections and therapies. Organoids have the potential to advance the understanding of infection progression and host-specific factors influencing disease outcomes.