Engineered human intestinal organoids: a modular system to model enteric disease

University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

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Abstract

? DESCRIPTION OF THE OVERALL U19 APPLICATION (provided by applicant): Enteric infectious diseases continue to represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to gastrointestinal pathogens that have been known for centuries, there continues to be an emergence of enteric disease agents as a product of manmade and natural changes in the environment. The appearance of antibiotic resistance and the lateral transfer of virulence factors have also impacted our ability to deal with well known pathogens. To counter these infectious disease threats, novel methods of studying these pathogens are needed. We have assembled an interdisciplinary team to address the need for novel alternative model systems for enteric diseases research. With expertise in viral and bacterial pathogenesis, immunology, tissue engineering, stem cell biology, infectious diseases and bioengineering, this team will utilize human intestinal or- ganoids (HIOs) generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) as a model gut epithelium. Three integrated projects will address the common specific aim of utilizing HIOs as a system to investigate the interaction between the intestinal epithelium, immune cells, microbiota and enteric pathogens. The first project will focus on the interaction of the HIO epithelium with normal members of the gut microbiota and specific enteric pathogens. Changes in the function of both the microbes and the HIO epithelium will be investigated. The second project will focus on interactions between the model epithelium found in the organoids and cellular elements of the immune system. Human immune cells will be allowed to interact with HIOs in both the presence and absence of microbes. The final project will employ a bioengineering approach to create a system that both facilitates the use of HIOs as a platform for scientific discovery and serves as a flexible platform for drug discovery and testing. These three projects will form an integrated cooperative research center that will involve investigators with a wide range of complementary expertise. Successful completion of the three projects will generate a powerful new system to study the biology of enteric disease agents and a platform for the development of novel therapeutics for their control.