Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have made an exciting discovery about a bacterium called Lactobacillus.
This friendly microbe, found in fermented foods like yogurt, might be a key player in managing stress and preventing mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
The team, led by Dr. Alban Gaultier, focused on understanding the specific role of Lactobacillus. This is important because our bodies are home to a vast array of microorganisms, collectively called the microbiota.
These tiny inhabitants are crucial for our overall health, impacting everything from our immune system to our mental wellbeing.
The UVA study stands out because it isolates the impact of Lactobacillus from the multitude of other microbes living in and on us.
Dr. Gaultier explained, “By understanding how Lactobacillus affects mood disorders, we can start to develop new treatments. This bacterium works by tuning the immune system, showing us a new path for fighting anxiety and depression.”
Our gut is a bustling metropolis of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Surprisingly, there are more of these microorganisms in our body than our own cells. While it might seem unsettling, these tiny organisms are essential for our health.
Any imbalance in this microbial community can lead to various diseases, even contributing to cancer spread. That’s why scientists are excited about targeting the microbiota to combat diseases.
However, manipulating our gut flora with beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, has been challenging.
The complexity of the microbiome is staggering – with an estimated 39 trillion microorganisms inside each of us, understanding their individual roles is a daunting task.
Gaultier’s team took a unique approach. They built on previous findings that Lactobacillus could reverse depression in mice.
To understand how they used a special collection of bacteria, including two strains of Lactobacillus. This approach allowed them to study mice with and without Lactobacillus, avoiding the use of antibiotics.
Their results were promising. The team discovered that Lactobacilli, specifically from the Lactobacillacea family, help maintain levels of an immune mediator called interferon gamma. This mediator is crucial for managing the body’s stress response and preventing depression.
This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for treating mental health issues. In the future, people struggling with depression might use probiotic supplements specifically designed to maintain healthy levels of Lactobacillus.
Dr. Andrea R. Merchak, a researcher on the team, is optimistic. “With this knowledge, we can better develop probiotics. This should accelerate the discovery of new therapies.
Most importantly, we can now look into how maintaining Lactobacillus and interferon gamma levels can prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”
This discovery not only highlights the potential of targeting specific bacteria for health benefits but also paves the way for novel, more effective treatments for mental health conditions.
The research from UVA’s team is a significant step towards understanding and harnessing the power of our microbiota for better mental health.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The research findings can be found in Brain Behavior and Immunity.
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