| abstract |
There is provided an in vitro three dimensional cell construct for use as a model of the avian intestine derived from avian intestinal tissue comprising avian cells organised into intestinal villi and crypts. Suitably the construct comprises an exterior surface that mimics the apical surface of a chicken intestine. Also provided are methods of making the cell construct and use of the construct as an in vitro intestinal model system to examine an agent including, but not limited to a microbe, a vaccine, a pharmaceutical, a feed additive, a toxin, a pre-biotic, post-biotic, pre pro post biotic, therapeutic, a cell, gene construct, protein, immune-modulator, an intestinal effector agent, a candidate intestinal effector agent, cell signalling inhibitor, or cell signalling activator. |