Reconstructing the microbe-host interface in an advanced bioprinted co-culture system to study microbial community contributions to chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis

Chemotherapy induced oral mucositis (CIOM) is a painful and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment that affects 20-40% of cancer patients. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells, but it also affects fast growing normal cells in the body, especially those that line the mouth. When these cells are damaged, painful mouth ulcers form. These painful ulcers can affect patients' ability to eat, drink, talk and even rest, therefore significantly reducing their quality of life. Currently there is no effective way to prevent CIOM from happening, and the only way to treat it is to provide supportive care such as numbing gels, ice chips and painkillers. Research has found that the types of bacteria that normally live in the mouth (the microbiome) change when someone develops CIOM. While some theories suggest that bacteria may cause or worsen CIOM, reducing the amount of bacteria in patients by using antibiotics, does little to help CIOM. In recent years, the importance of bacteria to human health has been increasing recognized. Clearly, bacteria play a role in CIOM that we have yet to understand. It is difficult to study cause and effect between bacteria and CIOM partly because it is difficult to grow bacteria and human cells together in the lab in a controlled and repeatable way. In this project, we will use a unique method to grow oral bacteria directly over cells from the lining of the mouth so that they can communicate chemically and physically, while still being confined. We will mimic the microbiome of the mouth by using the same types and combinations of bacteria that are found in the mouths of children with cancer. This will allow us to understand how microbes interact with oral cells during chemotherapy and identify microbial species that may offer protection again CIOM.