In the research published in the new issue of APL Bioengineering, researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory of the University of California described a new device, the intestinal chip, which successfully maintained the symbiosis of human intestinal cells and microbiota for several days or even weeks. Organ chip is a miniature model of human organs. They contain tiny channels in which cell and tissue cultures interact with precisely controlled nutrients. Using these models avoids the time-consuming and costly experimental challenges and the ethical issues behind animal experiments. Due to the unique environmental conditions, it is particularly difficult to model the microbiome. However, the gut chip can simulate many of these characteristics, such as the anaerobic environment of the gut, fluid flow and contraction/relaxation pulse. Compared with standard laboratory cell culture, intestinal cells grown in this environment are closer to human biology. The gut is one of the most complex organs of the human body, and its interior is full of various microbial populations. The destruction of this microbial population is strongly related to a series of diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, asthma, and even psychological and behavioral disorders. Therefore, an effective intestinal model is very useful for understanding its function and related diseases. Researchers said that obtaining effective human organ models that can be more convenient for research in the laboratory can greatly accelerate scientific discovery and new drug development. The team is currently studying the reasons for the imbalance of intestinal microbial community and its significant impact on health. (Xinhua News Agency)