Orally Administered Bacillus licheniformis F0726 Attenuates MPTP/P-Induced Neurodegeneration by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Suppressing Inflammatory Responses

Extensive studies have shown that Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with disruption in the gut microbiota. Bacillus licheniformis has attracted the attention of researchers due to its function in regulating the composition of intestinal microbiota. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of orally administered B. licheniformis F0726 in an MPTP/P-induced mice model of PD. The results showed that B. licheniformis F0726 significantly alleviated MPTP/P-induced motor dysfunction and depletion of dopamine-containing neurons. Notably, B. licheniformis F0726 alleviated neuroinflammation by inhibiting glial cell activation and reducing serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that intervention with B. licheniformis F0726 alleviated the gut dysbiosis. Crucially, B. licheniformis F0726 significantly increased the level of short-chain fatty acids, which are key signaling molecules of the gut-brain axis. In conclusion, B. licheniformis F0726 may alleviate neurodegenerative lesions in PD mice by modulating the gut microbiota and suppressing inflammatory responses.