Optimization of Pre-Clinical Rodent Research Models of Human Shock: Part 2 Trauma, Burn, and the Gut Microbiome

Rodent models are critical tools in the study of trauma and burn injury, giving mechanistic insights into the unique pathophysiological response and the systemic complications that follow. These models allow researchers to control injury patterns, longitudinally assess immune and metabolic responses, and evaluate therapeutic strategies in ways that are not feasible in human subjects. In this second part of our review, we examine how experimental trauma and burn models have evolved to better replicate the clinical trajectory of critically ill patients, with emphasis on polytrauma, burn injury, and translational relevance. We also highlight the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of shock within sepsis, trauma and burn, and review how rodent models have been used to investigate dysbiosis and test microbiome-targeted interventions. Although interspecies differences pose translational challenges, ongoing refinements in model selection, injury models, microbiome characterization, and reverse-translational approaches continue to expand the utility of rodent models, allowing researchers to discover vital insights into the complex pathophysiology of these critically ill patients and potential therapeutic targets that guide further investigation.