Approaches to discern if microbiome associations reflect causation in metabolic and immune disorders
Marijana Basic, Dominique Dardevet, Peter M. Abuja, Silvia Bolsega, Stéphanie Bornes, Robert Caesar, Francesco Maria Calabrese, Massimo Collino, Maria De Angelis, Philippe Gérard, Miguel Gueimonde, François Leulier, Eva Untersmayr, Evelien Van Rymenant, Paul de Vos, Isabelle Savary‐Auzeloux
Abstract
, zebrafish, rodents, and pigs). We particularly focused on discussing methods available for studying the causality ranging from the usage of gut microbiota transfer, diverse models of metabolic and immune perturbations involving nutritional and chemical factors, gene modifications and surgically induced models, metabolite profiling up to culture-based approached. Furthermore, we addressed the impact of the gut morphology, physiology as well as diet on the microbiota composition in various models and resulting species specificities. Finally, we conclude this review with the discussion on models that can be applied to study the causal role of the gut microbiota in the context of metabolic syndrome and host immunity. We hope this review will facilitate important considerations for appropriate animal model selection.