Mouse Fecal Samples Metagenome

Gut microbiome composition has been demonstrated to have effects on mouse phenotypes. This is problematic when comparing mice from different genetic backgrounds, like NOD and NOR mice, which by definition cannot be litter mates. In this study we demonstrated that the microbiomes of NOD and NOR mice could be “standardized” via cross-fostering to the same mother, from either a NOD or NOR background. This study therefore suggests a method for removing an important source of variation in studies involving mice from different backgrounds.