Multi-Scale Modelling of Host-Microbe Interactions: From Cell Membranes to Multi-Cellular Gut Models
type: CreativeWork
description: Recently, the role of the intestinal tract in health and disease has become of increasing interest. Translation of conventional 2D in vitro and animal models, which have been the cornerstone for intestinal research, is however limited; while human studies are expensive and preclude individual mechanisms from being investigated. More tailored in vitro models therefore offer an attractive avenue to study intestinal health and disease including microbiome-gut-immune interactions. Recently, there has been much progress in the development of in vitro intestinal models with studies incorporating mechanical and biophysical cues, immune cells and supporting longer-term co-culture of microbiota, amongst others. Nevertheless, platforms which combine all of these and more faithfully represent the intestinal tract cells are still lacking. Given the complexity of the intestinal tract, however, reductionist models tailored for a specific research question still provide much utility and opportunity. To this end, this thesis provides a brief overview of the structure of the gut and associated immune tissue to introduce the complexities involved with the gut-immune axis and how these may be challenging to recapitulate in vitro. Further, considerations for in vitro intestinal model development are introduced, together with electrochemical techniques which have been employed to monitor these models. Three different scales of in vitro models are then presented, namely from cell-free cell membrane-based models, to traditional cell monolayers and stratified multi-cell type approaches, to address three microbe-related applications. Different electrochemical devices are used to monitor each for applications in host-pathogen interaction, microbiome differences in irritable bowel syndrome and microbe metabolite effects. To this end, cell membrane models are first presented for the detection of whole bacteria, namely the opportunistic pathogen Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) known for its s…
abstract: Recently, the role of the intestinal tract in health and disease has become of increasing interest. Translation of conventional 2D in vitro and animal models, which have been the cornerstone for intestinal research, is however limited; while human studies are expensive and preclude individual mechanisms from being investigated. More tailored in vitro models therefore offer an attractive avenue to study intestinal health and disease including microbiome-gut-immune interactions. Recently, there has been much progress in the development of in vitro intestinal models with studies incorporating mechanical and biophysical cues, immune cells and supporting longer-term co-culture of microbiota, amongst others. Nevertheless, platforms which combine all of these and more faithfully represent the intestinal tract cells are still lacking. Given the complexity of the intestinal tract, however, reductionist models tailored for a specific research question still provide much utility and opportunity. To this end, this thesis provides a brief overview of the structure of the gut and associated immune tissue to introduce the complexities involved with the gut-immune axis and how these may be challenging to recapitulate in vitro. Further, considerations for in vitro intestinal model development are introduced, together with electrochemical techniques which have been employed to monitor these models. Three different scales of in vitro models are then presented, namely from cell-free cell membrane-based models, to traditional cell monolayers and stratified multi-cell type approaches, to address three microbe-related applications. Different electrochemical devices are used to monitor each for applications in host-pathogen interaction, microbiome differences in irritable bowel syndrome and microbe metabolite effects. To this end, cell membrane models are first presented for the detection of whole bacteria, namely the opportunistic pathogen Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) known for its s…
author: Wheeler-Enslin, Alexandra
language: eng
keywords: bioelectronics, in vitro models, intestinal models, in vitro monitoring
license: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/acb97d27-95d6-4250-b828-5363d6240187/download
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date published: 2025-03-31
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:31Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.125040