The invention is directed to co-culture systems comprising (i) rotating wall vessel (RWV)-cultured epithelial or differentiated tissue attached to microcarrier beads and (ii) the peripheral tissue equivalent (PTE) module of the MIMIC® system, and to methods of using the co-culture systems for assessing chemical or biological (bacterial or viral) insults. The system models mucosal exposure to chemicals, pathogens or antigen at various sites in the human body. The microcarrier and MIMIC® co-culture approach provides an in vitro co-culture model that simultaneously demonstrates mucosa-mediated antigen presentation and immunogenic responses. Models of the present invention can be used, for example, in assessments of disease pathogenesis and in pharmaceutical development, reproductive physiology, and immunological and toxicological evaluations. Models of the present invention can generate patient-specific localized mucosal immunology using primary cells, resembling the human physiological situation.
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