A Pediatric Immune Enteroid Model of Gut Enteropathy

Marcela Pasetti of the University of Maryland in the U.S. will generate an in vitro model of the gut using intestinal stem cells and immune cells to better mimic the damaged and inflamed guts of young children in developing countries for testing new treatments. Current so-called human enteroid models lack additional relevant cell types found in the intestine, particularly immune cells, which are known to play an important role in gut health and function. They will expose their new miniature pediatric gut model to enteric pathogens and test the ability of human breast milk and bovine hyperimmune colostrum to repair the subsequent damage.