About this Research Topic
In the last decade, gut microbiota studies have undoubtedly become one of the hottest research areas and profoundly influenced the research approaches for maintaining the host health of both humans and animals. Defined as a network and communication among the gastrointestinal tract, the enteric nervous system and the brain, the gut-brain axis has attracted considerable attention in the scientific and medical communities. The interaction between intestinal environment and host behavior as well as the potential probiotics that benefit mental health and yield positive psychiatric effects (referred to as psychobiotics) in psychopathology through gut-brain axis has been widely researched. Therefore, it is highly possible to provide a promising preventive or therapeutic approach to constrain the damages of brain functions (such as various mental diseases or cognitive dysfunctions) through directly or indirectly modulating the gut microbial community.
Taking advantage of next-generation sequencing, germ-free mice, and fecal transplantation, we clearly accepted the close link between intestinal health and brain function based on the results of a number of gut-brain axis studies. However, it should not be ignored that most psychobiotic research findings are currently understood in terms of correlation rather than causation. Especially, the mechanism underlying a potential probiotic strain with psychoactive effects must be considered to provide information for the exploration. Hence, this Research topic aims to publish original research and reviews on the role of gut microbiota and its modulation (commonly by probiotics) in humans and animals to prevent, treat or act as an adjuvant therapy to exert beneficial effects on abnormal behavioral performance, psychological problems, damages of brain structures and mental diseases, etc. This Research topic is also interested in the reciprocal relationship through which the brain could alter gut microbiota and intestinal health in the host.
The Topic Editors welcome original research and reviews on topics related, but not limited to, the following areas:
• The interaction between gut environment and brain function under different conditions in humans and animals.
• How probiotics directly or indirectly influence the gut-brain axis.
• Mechanisms of psychoactive effects of probiotics in modulating the gut-brain axis; Interdisciplinary studies and creative experimental design are encouraged and welcomed in this Research Topic.
Taking advantage of next-generation sequencing, germ-free mice, and fecal transplantation, we clearly accepted the close link between intestinal health and brain function based on the results of a number of gut-brain axis studies. However, it should not be ignored that most psychobiotic research findings are currently understood in terms of correlation rather than causation. Especially, the mechanism underlying a potential probiotic strain with psychoactive effects must be considered to provide information for the exploration. Hence, this Research topic aims to publish original research and reviews on the role of gut microbiota and its modulation (commonly by probiotics) in humans and animals to prevent, treat or act as an adjuvant therapy to exert beneficial effects on abnormal behavioral performance, psychological problems, damages of brain structures and mental diseases, etc. This Research topic is also interested in the reciprocal relationship through which the brain could alter gut microbiota and intestinal health in the host.
The Topic Editors welcome original research and reviews on topics related, but not limited to, the following areas:
• The interaction between gut environment and brain function under different conditions in humans and animals.
• How probiotics directly or indirectly influence the gut-brain axis.
• Mechanisms of psychoactive effects of probiotics in modulating the gut-brain axis; Interdisciplinary studies and creative experimental design are encouraged and welcomed in this Research Topic.
Keywords: gut microbiota, probiotic, gut-brain axis, intestinal health, cognitive ability, psychoactive effect
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
