Oral host-microbe interactions investigated in 3D organotypic models.

Abstract

The oral cavity is inhabited by abundant microbes which continuously interact with the host and influence the host's health. Such host-microbe interactions (HMI) are dynamic and complex processes involving e.g. oral tissues, microbial communities and saliva. Due to difficulties in mimicking the in vivo complexity, it is still unclear how exactly HMI influence the transition between healthy status and disease conditions in the oral cavity. As an advanced approach, three-dimensional (3D) organotypic oral tissues (epithelium and mucosa/gingiva) are being increasingly used to study underlying mechanisms. These in vitro models were designed with different complexity depending on the research questions to be answered. In this review, we summarised the existing 3D oral HMI models, comparing designs and readouts, discussing applications as well as future perspectives.