Gut microbes: The gut brain connection

A growing appreciation for the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease, coupled with recent advances in microbiome-related research, has emphasized the importance of the gut microbiota in regulating brain function and behavior. Increasing clinical and preclinical studies are strengthening the concept that the microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a central role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and contributes to the pathophysiology of numerous brain diseases. The modes of communication between the gut microbiota and the brain are slowly being uncovered and include immune signaling pathways, host-microbe interactions in the enteric nervous system, tryptophan metabolism, the vagus nerve, gut hormone signaling, and signaling via microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Indeed, animal models have been of paramount importance in unravelling the role of the gut microbiota in modulating brain function and behavior. Altered gut microbiota compositions have been implicated in a myriad of conditions including neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. Future studies aim to focus on understanding the mechanistic links between the gut microbiota and the brain, enabling the development of novel therapeutic strategies for multifaceted central nervous system (CNS) disorders.