Host-Microbe Interactions in the Female Reproductive Tract
Background: We have developed in vitro human female reproductive tract cell models that recapitulate in vivo structural and functional features using innovative rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor technology. These include human vaginal, cervical, and endometrial cell models to study host-microbe interactions.
Cervicovaginal Lactobacillus and BVAB effectively colonize the surface and crevices of human 3D cervical epithelial cell model. Laniewski P, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Bacterial vaginosis and health-associated bacteria modulate the immunometabolic landscape in 3D model of human cervix. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2021. 7(1):88. PMID: 34903740
Projects
Related Projects: Studies in the lab have investigated host-microbe interactions between human female reproductive tract cell models and bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria (BVAB), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In addition to researching pathogenic insults, we have utilized these models for studying beneficial microbes and protective mechanisms in the context of women's health. The three-dimensional cell model facilitate multi-omics approaches to study hallmarks of bacterial vaginosis and cancer. Ongoing studies continue to implement the three-dimensional cell models to investigate host-microbe interactions in the female reproductive tract in the context of adverse gynecologic diseases and infections. In addition, we have utilized these models to study personal and commercial lubricants and anti-microbial compounds to assess safety, toxicity, and impact on commensal lactobacilli.
Published Studies:
Published Studies:
- Maarsingh JD, Laniewski P, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Immunometabolic and potential tumor-promoting changes in 3D cervical cell models infected with bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria. Commun Biol. 2022 Jul 22;5(1):725. PMID: 35869172.
- Laniewski P, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Bacterial vaginosis and health-associated bacteria modulate the immunometabolic landscape in 3D model of human cervix. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2021. 7(1):88. PMID: 34903740
- Salliss ME, Maarsingh JD, Garza C, Laniewski P, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Veillonellaceae family members uniquely alter the cervicovaginal metabolic microenvironment in a human three-dimensional epithelial model. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2021. 7(1):57. PMID: 34230496
- Jackson R, Maarsingh JD, Herbst-Kralovetz MM, Van Doorslaer K. 3D oral and cervical tissue models for studying papillomavirus host-pathogen interactions. Curr Protoc Microbiol. 2020. PMID: 33232584
- Ilhan ZE, Laniewski P, Tonachio A, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Members of Prevotella genus distinctively modulate innate immune and barrier functions in a human three-dimensional endometrial epithelial cell model. J Infect Dis. 2020. PMID: 32515473
- Gardner JK, Laniewski P, Knight A, Haddad LB, Swaims-Kohlmeier A, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. IL-36gamma is elevated in cervicovaginal epithelial cells in women with bacterial vaginosis and in vitro after infection with microbes associated with bacterial vaginosis. J Infect Dis. 2020. PMID: 31586390
- Gardner JK, Swaims-Kohlmeier A, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. IL-36gamma is a key regulator of neutrophil infiltration in the vaginal microenvironment and limits neuroinvasion in genital HSV-2 infection. J. Immunol. 2019. PMID: 30118914
- Laniewski P, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Analysis of Host Responses to Neisseria gonorrhoeae Using a Human Three-Dimensional Endometrial Epithelial Cell Model. Methods Mol Biol. 2019. PMID: 31119633
- Gardner JK, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. IL-36gamma induces a transient HSV-2 resistant environment that protects against genital disease and pathogenesis. Cytokine. 2018. PMID: 30118914
- Laniewski P, Gomez A, Hire G, So M, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Human three-dimensional endometrial epithelial cell model to study host interactions with vaginal bacterial and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Infect Immun. 2017. PMID: 28052997
- Gardner JK, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Three-dimensional rotating wall vessel-derived cell culture models for studying virus-host interactions. Viruses. 2016. PMID: 27834891
- Winkle S, Throop L, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. IL-36gamma augments host defense and immune responses in human female reproductive tract epithelial cells. Front Microbiol. 2016 Jun. PMID: 27379082
- Doerflinger SY, Throop AL, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Bacteria in the Vaginal Microbiome Alter the Innate Immune Response and Barrier Properties of the Human Vaginal Epithelia in a Species-Specific Manner. J Infect Dis. 2014 Feb 12. PMID: 24403560
- McGowin CL, Radtke AL, Abraham K, Martin DH, Herbst-Kralovetz M. Mycoplasma genitalium infection activates cellular host defense and inflammation pathways in a 3-dimensional human endocervical epithelial cell model. J Infect Dis. 2013 Jun 15. PMID: 23493725
- Herbst-Kralovetz MM, Radtke AL, Lay MK, Hjelm BE, Bolick AN, Sarker SS, Atmar RL, Kingsley DH, Arntzen CJ, Estes MK, Nickerson CA. Lack of Norovirus replication and histo-blood group antigen expression in 3-dimensional intestinal epithelial cells. Emerg Infec Dis. 2013 Mar. PMID: 23622517
- Radtke AL, Quayle AJ, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Microbial products alter the expression of membrane-associated mucin and antimicrobial peptides in a three-dimensional human endocervical epithelial cell model. Biol Reprod. 2012 Dec. PMID: 23053434
- Radtke AL, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Culturing and application of rotating wall vessel bioreactor derived 3D epithelial cell models. J Vis Exp. 2012 Apr. PMID: 22491366
- Barrila J, Radtke AL, Crabbé A, Sarker SF, Herbst-Kralovetz MM, Ott CM, Nickerson CA. Organotypic 3D cell culture models: using the rotating wall vessel to study host-pathogen interactions. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2010 Nov. PMID: 20948552
- Hjelm BE, Berta AN, Nickerson CA, Arntzen CJ, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Development and characterization of a three-dimensional organotypic human vaginal epithelial cell model. Biol Reprod. 2010 Mar. PMID: 20007410