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

Creators: 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 35+ 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.

Additional Information

© 2021 O'Toole et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Published 21 September 2021. We thank the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's willingness to support the original, in-person version of this workshop, which needed to be canceled and rescheduled as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank Madison Leonard and Cindy Stewart of DartCF for their administrative support, Fabrice Jean-Pierre for his assistance, and the workshop session moderators (A. Crabbé, J. Bomberger, V. Phelan, J. Davies, D. Limoli, R. Kümmerli) and scribes (T. Hampton, R. Hunter, L. Dietrich, A. Price-Whelan, C. Khursigara, J. Bliska, W. DePas) for their willingness to help both the planning of and logistical support during the workshop. DartCF is supported by the NIH (P30-DK117469) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research Development Program (STANTO19R0). Additional support was provided by NIH/R01AI155424, NIH/1R01HL152190, CFF/CRAMER19GO, CIHR/PJT-156111, NIH/R35GM128690, NIH/R01DK104847, R01/NIHAI127548, CFF/TURNER19PO, NIH/R01HL136919, CFF/ASHARE21G0, NIH/R35HL18500, NIH/P20GM130454, NIHR Systematic Reviews Program, CFF/WHITEL20A0, NIH/R01AI103369, University of Nottingham Anne McLaren Fellowship, Swiss National Science Foundation/31003A_182499, MRC/MR/R001898/1, NIH/R01HL151385, NIH/R01AI155424, CFF/BOMBER21R3, CFF/SPERO19F0, NIH/R01HL136647, Paul G. Allen Frontiers Investigator Award, NIH/R01HL136647, Cystic Fibrosis Trust Strategic Research Centre Award, CF Trust/VIA078, CF Trust/VIAO77, CIHR/FDN/159902, and CFF/BOMBER18G0.

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