The forefront of the gastrointestinal mucosa consists mainly of a continuous polarised epithelial monolayer, protected by mucus. This strong defence barrier can be colonized by pathogens arousing a chronic inflammatory state. This exceptional colonization ability is associated with an increased risk of developing adenocarcinomas at the sites of infection. We have regenerated organoids and we have developed a new functional epithelial monolayer culture called “mucosoids”.

The mucosoids are human multi-lineage stem-cell based in-vitro equivalent of a real mucosa. They mimic the function of a homeostatic epithelial barrier including accumulation of mucus on the apical side. Use of human mucosoid cultures reveals novel insight into epithelial homeostasis and response to bacterial infections.