Bacteria are a type of microorganism with different shapes and structures. In bacteriology, they are mainly classified into two main types, gram-negative and gram-positive, based on the physical and chemical properties of the cell wall.

The migration of potentially harmful bacteria or their toxic products from one site of the body (such as the gut) to other organs or tissues due to compromised barrier integrity.

A condition characterized by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, where beneficial lactobacilli are reduced and replaced by an overgrowth of other bacteria. This shift can cause symptoms such as unusual discharge or odor, although some cases are asymptomatic.

BALB/c mice are a widely used strain of laboratory mice commonly used in biomedical research (i.e., including immunology, oncology, and infectious disease research) due to their genetic uniformity, susceptibility to certain diseases, and ability to produce high levels of antibodies (Brodkin, 2007; Willott et al., 1998).

The basal ganglia is a part of the brain comprising multiple structures that primarily modulate motor tone and involuntary motor movement. Damage to this area is implicated in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease.

One of the three behavioral systems proposed by Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory.  It determines how sensitive a person is to rewards, differentiating between people who are very keen to act, often without considering all the consequences, in order to try to obtain a desired reward, and those who are not prone to rash actions.

One of the three behavioral systems proposed by Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. Individuals with pronounced BIS are prone to experiencing anxiety. They will tend to intensely worry and ruminate (extensively think) about the topics of their worry. They tend to be constantly on the lookout for possible signs of danger.

Behavioral mechanisms refer to the processes and actions that govern an individual’s behavior. These mechanisms encompass how people respond to stimuli in their environment, make decisions, and engage in various activities.

Behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology defined by the belief that behavior of organisms can be described in terms of stimuli and reactions to them (without considering cognition or internal psychological experiences). This was later expanded to include the characteristics of the organism into S-O-R (stimulus-organism-reaction).The most prominent behaviorist theories of this period include the concept of classical conditioning developed by Ivan Pavlov and John Watson, the concept of operant conditioning developed by B.F. Skinner, and the Drive Reduction Theory of Clark Hull and others (Radonjić, 1992).

An enzyme produced by certain gut microbes that deconjugates glucuronidated compounds, including estrogen, allowing them to be reabsorbed into circulation. gmGUS activity plays a key role in regulating estrogen levels and can influence estrogen-related diseases.