Effects of gut microbiota on brain and behavior

The influence of the composition of gut microbiota on normal physiology and diseases has been becoming major research interests in recent years. The gut microbiota has significantly influenced all aspects of physiology, including gut-brain communication, brain function and even behavior through the gut-brain axis. Studies on the germ-free animals, animals infected with pathogenic bacteria and those exposed to probiotic agents or antibiotics suggest a role of the gut microbiota in modulating anxiety and depress-like behavior. Most of the studies have suggested that modulation of the gut microbiota may be a strategy for developing novel therapeutics for complex disorders of central nervous system.