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Probiotics and psychobiotics: The role of microbial neurochemicals
This 2019 study explains that microorganisms can produce communication signals, both to interact with other microbial cells and with the host organism. While the gastrointestinal tract is commonly a home for many of these microbiota, these microorganisms can inhabit various niches of the host organism. These microorganisms respond to host signals, enabling them to interact with the nervous system (including the brain and the immune system of the host). This communication between host and microorganism may either stabilize the host’s mental and physical health state or have detrimental effects on the host’s health. Specific probiotics called psychobiotics are used to regulate this brain-gut-microbiota axis by releasing neuroactive substances that directly affect the host’s human brain, psyche, and behavior. While there has been research conducted already on the role of neurochemicals in the bidirectional communication within the host-microbiota system, this study focuses on the effects of bacterial cell components, metabolites, and signal molecules. These biologically active agents (called “postbiotics” or “metabiotics”) may represent alternatives to probiotics, with both advantages and disadvantages. [NPID: probiotics, microbiota, microbes, microorganisms, gut, gut bacteria, gut microbiota]
Year: 2019
