Open AccessThe zebrafish as a model for gastrointestinal tract–microbe interactions
Author(s) -
Flores Erika M.,
Nguyen Anh T.,
Odem Max A.,
Eisenhoffer George T.,
Krachler Anne Marie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/cmi.13152
Subject(s) - zebrafish , danio , biology , gastrointestinal tract , vertebrate , model organism , host (biology) , model system , immune system , immunology , computational biology , ecology , genetics , gene , biochemistry
The zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) has become a widely used vertebrate model for bacterial, fungal, viral, and protozoan infections. Due to its genetic tractability, large clutch sizes, ease of manipulation, and optical transparency during early life stages, it is a particularly useful model to address questions about the cellular microbiology of host–microbe interactions. Although its use as a model for systemic infections, as well as infections localised to the hindbrain and swimbladder having been thoroughly reviewed, studies focusing on host–microbe interactions in the zebrafish gastrointestinal tract have been neglected. Here, we summarise recent findings regarding the developmental and immune biology of the gastrointestinal tract, drawing parallels to mammalian systems. We discuss the use of adult and larval zebrafish as models for gastrointestinal infections, and more generally, for studies of host–microbe interactions in the gut.