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Using animal models, the gut microbiota has been shown to play a critical role in the health and disease of many organ systems. Unfortunately, animal model studies often lack reproducibility when performed at different institutions. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the gut microbiota of mice can vary with a number of husbandry factors leading us to speculate that differing environments may alter gut microbiota, which in turn may influence animal model phenotypes. As an extension of these studies, we hypothesized that the shipping of mice from a mouse producer to an institution will result in changes in the type, relative abundance, and functional composition of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we hypothesized that mice will develop a microbiota unique to the institution and facility in which they are housed. To test these hypotheses, mice of two strains (C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ), two age groups (4 week and 8 week old), and originating from two types of housing (research animal facility under conventional housing and production facilities under maximum barrier housing) were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory. Fecal samples were collected the day prior to shipping, immediately upon arrival, and then on days 2, 5, 7, and weeks 2, 4, and 9 post-arrival. Following the first post-arrival fecal collection, mice were separated into 2 groups and housed at different facilities at our institution while keeping their caging, diet, and husbandry practices the same. DNA was extracted from the collected fecal pellets and 16S rRNA amplicons were sequenced in order to characterize the type and relative abundance of gut bacteria. Principal component analysis (PCA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) demonstrated that both the shipping and the institution and facility in which mice were housed altered the gut microbiota. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) predicted differences in functional composition in the gut microbiota of mice based on time of acclimation.
Pubmed ID: 29892276
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An independent, nonprofit organization focused on mammalian genetics research to advance human health. Their mission is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating, and curing human disease, and to enable research for the global biomedical community. Jackson Laboratory breeds and manages colonies of mice as resources for other research institutions and laboratories, along with providing software and techniques. Jackson Lab also conducts genetic research and provides educational material for various educational levels.
View all literature mentionsAn Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) clustering software for 16S and other marker genes. Highly accurate OTU sequences and improved diversity measures.
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View all literature mentionsA pipeline which takes short DNA/RNA reads as inputs and produces gene and pathway summaries as outputs. The pipeline converts sequence reads into coverage and abundance tables summarizing the gene families and pathways in one or more microbial communities.
View all literature mentionsWeb server for statistical, functional and integrative analysis of metabolomics data. Web based tool suite used for metabolomic data processing, normalization, multivariate statistical analysis, and data annotation, biomarker discovery and classification.
View all literature mentionsCenter that supplies mice and conducts research projects focused on the role of mice as animal models. Some of these projects include refinement of models to ensure study reproducibility, as well as development and improvement of economical methods for cryopreservation of mouse strains.
View all literature mentionsCenter for mutant mouse research and distribution. The objectives of the JAX MMRRC are to: identify and evaluate biomedically-significant mice, import/acquire and archive mouse strains, distribute mouse strains, and operate a control program to ensure genetic stability.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name BALB/cJ from IMSR.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name 129S6.B6J-Notch1tm1Con/Mmmh from MMRRC.
View all literature mentionsNational public repository system for mutant mice. Archives and distributes scientifically valuable spontaneous and induced mutant mouse strains and ES cell lines for use by biomedical research community. Includes breeding/distribution facilities and information coordinating center. Mice strains are cryopreserved, unless live colony must be established. Live mice are supplied from production colony, from colony recovered from cryopreservation, or via micro-injection of cell line into host blastocysts. MMRRC member facilities also develop technologies to improve handling of mutant mice, including advances in assisted reproductive techniques, cryobiology, genetic analysis, phenotyping and infectious disease diagnostics.
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