Johannes Schöneich and Aline Dupont, both from the Hornef research group, have published their systematic analysis of the small intestinal epithelium during the postnatal period. Using laser microdissection (LMD), proteomics, and bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing of isolated intestinal epithelial cells from SPF and germ-free mice, they characterise how the intestinal epithelium contributes to the successful transition from the in utero environment to the postnatal environment. This time window presents key challenges, such as the establishment of the intestinal microbiome, the transition from transplacental to enteral nutrition via breast milk, and the maturation of the mucosal immune system.
The article can be downloaded under: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003212
