Psychobiotics and Their Involvement in Mental Health

Editorial J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2014;24:211–214 DOI: 10.1159/000366281 Published online: August 30, 2014 Psychobiotics and Their Involvement in Mental Health Fengyi Tang a Bhaskara L. Reddy a, b Milton H. Saier Jr. a a Ingested prebiotic organic compounds stimulate the growth of intestinal probiotic bacteria [Saier and Man- sour, 2005]. Pre- and probiotics represent important components in chains of complex biosynthetic and cata- bolic reactions that provide tremendous health benefits to the human or animal host organism [Singh et al., 2013; Vitetta et al., 2014]. These bacteria, which in part com- prise the intestinal microbiome, do so by supplying nu- trients such as short-chain fatty acids [Ohashi and Ush- ida, 2009] and precursors of enzyme cofactors including vitamin B 12 [Capozzi et al., 2012]. They also successfully compete with potential pathogens [Corr et al., 2009] and stimulate host immune responses [Jirillo et al., 2012; Vi- taliti et al., 2014]. They strongly influence either posi- tively or negatively, depending on the bacterial types present, symptoms of numerous metabolic disorders in- cluding those responsible, in part, for the current obesity epidemic [Kotzampassi et al., 2014; Vitetta et al., 2014]. Therefore, not surprisingly, malnutrition in children has been shown to be associated with a lack of certain crucial gut bacteria [Subramanian et al., 2014]. It is now clear that the intestinal microbiome influences innumerable processes essential for the physical fitness of animals and humans. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel E-Mail karger@karger.com www.karger.com/mmb The contribution of beneficial gut bacteria to human health is now scientifically well established [Shanahan et al., 2012]. The predominant well-studied probiotic bacte- ria are Firmicutes such as Lactobacillus species, Actino- bacteria such as Bifidobacterium species and Bacteroide- tes such as Bacteroides species. Several others, including Proteobacteria such as certain Escherichia coli strains, have also been shown to exhibit probiotic qualities. In fact, all of these microbes have beneficial consequences to the host organism. In only a few cases have the probiotic bacterial mechanisms of action been elucidated [Butel, Since these bacteria influence so many aspects of hu- man physiology, it should not be considered surprising that recent studies have revealed that they also have pro- nounced effects on brain function. Indeed, these bacteria produce tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin (5-hy- droxytryptamine), tyrosine, a precursor of L-3,4-dihy- droxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and dopamine, and other amino acids such as γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glycine, both of which serve as neurotransmitters in ani- mals [Clarke et al., 2014b]. In fact, recent research has shown that the microbiota strongly influences brain ac- tivity and consequently behavior. It exerts effects on our moods, cognition and sensitivities to pain [Borre et al., Milton H. Saier Jr. Department of Molecular Biology Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0116 (USA) E-Mail msaier @ ucsd.edu Downloaded by: Univ. of California San Diego 132.239.144.87 - 2/15/2017 1:46:22 AM Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, Calif. , and b Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, College of Letters and Sciences, National University, Ontario, Calif. , USA

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