Gut-on-a-Chip Models: Current and Future Perspectives for Host-Microbial Interactions Research

The intestine contains the largest microbial community in the human body, the gut microbiome. Increasing evidence suggests that it plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. However, while many studies have found a correlation between certain diseases and changes in the microbiome, the impact of different microbial compositions on the gut and the mechanisms by which they contribute to disease are not well understood. Traditional pre-clinical models, such as cell culture or animal models, are limited in their ability to mimic the complexity of human physiology. New mechanistic models, such as organ-on-a-chip, are being developed to address this issue. These models provide a more accurate representation of human physiology and could help bridge the gap between clinical and pre-clinical studies. Gut-on-chip models allow researchers to better understand the underlying mechanisms of disease and the effect of different microbial compositions on the gut. They can help to move the field from correlation to causation and accelerate the development of new treatments for diseases associated with changes in the gut microbiome. This review will discuss current and future perspectives of gut-on-chip models to study host-microbial interactions.

Automated summary

The gut contains the largest microbial community in the human body, known as the gut microbiome, which is increasingly recognized as playing a crucial role in overall health. However, the specific impact of different microbial compositions on the gut and the mechanisms by which they contribute to disease are still not well understood. New mechanistic models, such as organ-on-a-chip, are being developed to better mimic human physiology and bridge the gap between clinical and pre-clinical studies. Gut-on-chip models offer a more accurate representation of host-microbial interactions and could accelerate the development of new treatments for diseases associated with changes in the gut microbiome.