Bacin2DLiver: A technological platform of Bacterial fermentation in vitro-assays with 2D gut and Liver organoids and Kupffer cells in co-culture to study equine health and disease.

Disruptions in horse gut microbiota (i.e., dysbacteriosis) can be associated with clinical outcomes such as life-threatening laminitis and colic. Studying these conditions is difficult, as access to the gut and liver is limited and requires invasive procedures. Therefore, in vitro technologies to investigate how dysbacteriosis can contribute to metabolic disorders are vital. This project aims (1) to further develop in vitro technologies to simulate gut fermentation. (2) To assess the absorption and metabolism of these metabolites using mini gut and livers (i.e., organoids), and (3) combine these technologies to form a platform to study the gut-liver axis in horses.