Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions

O’Toole, George A.; Crabbé, Aurélie; Kümmerli, Rolf; LiPuma, John J.; Bomberger, Jennifer M.; Davies, Jane C.; Limoli, Dominique; Phelan, Vanessa V.; Bliska, James B.; DePas, William H.; Dietrich, Lars E.; Hampton, Thomas H.; Hunter, Ryan; Khursigara, Cezar M.; Price-Whelan, Alexa; Ashare, Alix; Cramer, Robert A.; Goldberg, Joanna B.; Harrison, Freya; Hogan, Deborah A.; Henson, Michael A.; Madden, Dean R.; Mayers, Jared R.; Nadell, Carey; Newman, Dianne; Prince, Alice; Rivett, Damian W.; Schwartzman, Joseph D.; Schultz, Daniel; Sheppard, Donald C.; Smyth, Alan R.; Spero, Melanie A.; Stanton, Bruce A.; Turner, Paul E.; van der Gast, Chris; Whelan, Fiona J.; Whitaker, Rachel; Whiteson, Katrine

Abstract

A recent workshop titled “Developing Models to Study Polymicrobial Infections,” sponsored by the Dartmouth Cystic Fibrosis Center (DartCF), explored the development of new models to study the polymicrobial infections associated with the airways of persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). The workshop gathered 351 investigators over two virtual sessions. Here, we present the findings of this workshop, summarize some of the challenges involved with developing such models, and suggest three frameworks to tackle this complex problem. The frameworks proposed here, we believe, could be generally useful in developing new model systems for other infectious diseases. Developing and validating new approaches to study the complex polymicrobial communities in the CF airway could open windows to new therapeutics to treat these recalcitrant infections, as well as uncovering organizing principles applicable to chronic polymicrobial infections more generally.

Citation

O’Toole, G. A., Crabbé, A., Kümmerli, R., LiPuma, J. J., Bomberger, J. M., Davies, J. C., …Whiteson, K. (2021). Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions. mBio, 12(5), https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01763-21

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 25, 2022
• Journal: mBio
• Print ISSN: 2161-2129
• Electronic ISSN: 2150-7511
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01763-21
• Keywords: Virology; Microbiology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6604878
• Publisher URL: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.01763-21
• Additional Information: Published: 2021-09-21