Gnotobiotics or gnotobiology is a research field exploring organisms with a known microbiological state. In animal research, the development of gnotobiotics started in the late 19th century with the rederivation of germ-free guinea pigs. Cutting-edge achievements were accomplished by scientists in the Laboratories of Bacteriology at the University of Notre Dame (LOBUND). The primary goals of gnotobiotics were not only the development of the equipment required for long-term husbandry but also phenotypic characterization of germ-free animals. The first isolators were designed by Reynolds and Gustafsson as rigid-wall stainless steel autoclave-like chambers, which were subsequently replaced by Trexler's flexible-film polyvinyl plastic isolators. Flexible-film or semi-rigid isolators are commonly used today. The long-term maintenance of gnotobiotic rodents is performed in positive-pressure isolators. However, to facilitate gnotobiotic experimental procedures, short-term husbandry systems have been developed. Gnotobiotic animal husbandry is laborious and requires experienced staff. Germ-free animals can be rederived from existing rodent colonies by hysterectomy or embryo transfer. The physiology and anatomy of germ-free rodents are different from those of specified pathogen-free (SPF) rodents. Furthermore, to guarantee gnotobiotic status, the colonies need to be regularly microbiologically monitored. Today, gnotobiotics provides a powerful tool to analyse functional effects of host-microbe interactions, especially in complex disease models. Gnotobiotic models combined with 'omics' approaches will be indispensable for future advances in microbiome research. Furthermore, these approaches will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic targets. In addition, regional or national gnotobiotic core facilities should be established in the future to support further applications of gnotobiotic models.

中文翻译：

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生殖激素：过去，现在和未来。

生殖生物或gnotobiology是研究微生物状态已知的生物的研究领域。在动物研究中，随着无菌小天竺鼠的重新繁殖，gnotobiotics的发展始于19世纪后期。圣母大学（LOBUND）的细菌学实验室的科学家们取得了最前沿的成就。gnotobiotics的主要目标不仅是长期饲养所需设备的开发，还包括无菌动物的表型表征。雷诺（Reynolds）和古斯塔夫森（Gustafsson）将第一个隔离器设​​计为刚性壁的不锈钢高压灭菌室，随后被Trexler的柔性薄膜聚乙烯塑料隔离器取代。如今，柔性膜或半刚性隔离器已普遍使用。gnotobiotic啮齿动物的长期维护在正压隔离器中进行。但是，为了促进生gnotobiotic实验程序，已开发了短期饲养系统。生殖生物畜牧业费力，需要经验丰富的人员。可以通过子宫切除术或胚胎移植从现有的啮齿类动物群落中重获无毒动物。无菌啮齿动物的生理和解剖结构与特定的无病原体（SPF）啮齿动物不同。此外，为了保证产菌状态，需要定期进行微生物学监测。如今，gnotobiotics提供了一种强大的工具，可以分析宿主-微生物相互作用的功能效应，尤其是在复杂疾病模型中。生殖生物模型结合“组学” 这些方法对于微生物组研究的未来发展必不可少。此外，这些方法将有助于开发新的治疗靶标。另外，将来应建立区域或国家的生生物核心设施，以支持生生物模型的进一步应用。