The gut microbiome as a regulator of physiology, brain and behaviour: Implications for the treatment of stress-related disorders

Abstract Text:

It has become increasingly clear that multiple aspects of host physiology are heavily influenced by the gut microbiome. Included in this remit is not just host metabolism and body composition but also a marked influence on the stress response via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This is clear from studies in microbiota-deficient germ-free animals who display exaggerated responses to acute stressors that can be normalized by monocolonization with certain bacterial species including Bifidobacterium infantis. Also coming into focus is microbial regulation of the metabolism of tryptophan, an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin, a key neurotransmitter within both the enteric and central nervous systems. The gut microbiota may thus be a tractable target for treating or preventing stress-related microbiome-gut-brain axis disorders and metabolic diseases. Moreover, the implications of these findings need to be considered in the context of new control points for endocrine-immune-metabolic targeting in farm and domestic animal physiology and behaviour.

Keywords:

Gut Microbiome; Stress; Tryptophan