Gutted! Unraveling the role of the microbiome in major depressive disorder

Long-term stress disrupts the function of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and is linked to changes in tryptophan metabolism, compromised gut barrier function, and disrupted daily rhythms. However, the effects of short-term stress on the gut and its interaction with daily physiological cycles are poorly understood. In this study by Gheorghe et al. (2024), the authors utilized […]

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which supports responses to outside stimuli, connects the circadian and stress response systems. It is yet unknown, though, how these signals are coordinated. According to this study by Tofani et al. (2024), the HPA axis rhythmicity is regulated by the gut flora. When microbes are depleted, it disrupts the brain’s transcriptome […]