A tool to edit genes in the guts of human mice and its applications to mouse models with microbiome-driven diseases – from E. coli to breast feeding
This is a very complex environment and thus it has been difficult to directly edit certain genes in the guts of live mice. The tool was able to edit over 90% of an E. coli strain colonising mice guts, with other work showing the tool could be used to edit genes in pathogenic bacterial species and strains. It is hoped that the technique could be used in humans to changebacteria associated with disease.
The next step for Duportet and his colleagues is to develop mouse models with microbiome-driven diseases to measure whether specific gene edits have a beneficial impact on their health.
During breastfeeding bones are stripped of calcium, while levels of oestrogen — which normally helps keep them healthy — drop off precipitously. Because of the stress, the bones dont break down at this time, but it has proved a mystery. Now, a team has identified a hormone produced in lactating mice that promotes the build up of bones, keeping them strong during milk production. The team hopes their finding will eventually help treat bone-weakening conditions like osteoporosis in humans, since injecting this hormone into injured mice helped their bones heal faster.
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