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Germ-free animals are routinely used to establish causality in studies of the microbiome. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] This is done by comparing animals with a standard commensal gut microbiome to germ free, or by colonising a germ free animal with an organism of interest.
Between the 1950s and 1970s, germ-free models were used to study the effects of the absence of bacteria on host organism metabolism and physiology, which later evolved into intentionally infecting germ-free organisms with specific microorganisms to investigate their functions and other questions relating to the biomedical field. [9]
Setaria viridis, emerging model grass for C4 photosynthesis and related bioenergy grasses. [13] [14] Lotus japonicus, model legume used to study the symbiosis responsible for nitrogen fixation. (Agronomy, Molecular biology) Lemna gibba. Lemna gibba, rapidly growing aquatic monocot, one of the smallest flowering plants.
This category is for animals used as model organisms. Protostome models include arthropods (including insects like Drosophila), some molluscs and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Chordate models include tunicates and some vertebrates.
Germ-free animals, mainly mice, are colonized with ASF for the purpose of studying the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Intestinal mutualistic bacteria play an important role in affecting gene expression of the GI tract, immune responses , nutrient absorption, and pathogen resistance . [ 4 ]
Animal models can be used to take more accurate samples of the in situ microbiome. Germ-free animals are used to implant a specific microbiome from another organism to yield a gnotobiotic model. These can be studied to see how it changes under different environmental conditions.
Much of the research in germ cell development [5] is done on animal models. [9] Animal models are an effective research tool due to the commonality of sexual reproduction which is thought to have same or similar mechanisms across species. [6]
Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) is a term used for laboratory animals that are guaranteed free of particular pathogens. Use of SPF animals ensures that specified diseases do not interfere with an experiment. For example, absence of respiratory pathogens such as influenza is desirable when investigating a drug's effect on lung function.