ThemouseligatedPeyer'spatchintestinalloopassayisavaluableexperimentaltechniqueusedtostudybacterialuptakebyMcellsinthegut-associatedlymphoidtissue(GALT).ThismethodinvolvessurgicallyisolatingintestinalsegmentscontainingPeyer'spatches,followedbytheinjectionofbacterialsuspensionsintotheligatedloops.Afteranincubationperiod,researcherscananalyzebacterialtranslocationacrosstheMcellepithelium,whichplaysacrucialroleininitiatingmucosalimmuneresponses.Theassayprovidesacontrolledinvivosystemtoinvestigatehost-pathogeninteractionsattheintestinalmucosa,particularlythemechanismsofmicrobialinvasionthroughMcells.Ithasbeenwidelyappliedtostudyvariousentericpathogensandevaluatepotentialvaccinecandidatestargetingthemucosalimmunesystem.ThistechniqueoffersinsightsintoearlyinfectioneventsandcanhelpassesstheefficacyofinterventionsaimedatmodulatingMcell-mediatedantigensampling.
