Neuromicrobiology Free Essay Example

How does this even work? How do these little creatures influence bodily functions? You see, the bacteria in the gut aren't just hanging around doing nothing. They're carrying out a bunch of different metabolic processes and secreting a bunch of chemicals that can interact with the various pathways in the body. One important class of molecule produced by anaerobic fermentation is the SCFA, an organic acid that supposedly has a role in everything ranging from long-term memory storage to depression. As an example, SCFAs are constantly interacting with the nervous system, especially with microglials, which help to reinforce synaptic connections and keep everything running smoothly in general. Various laboratory experiments have shown that SCFAs stimulate microglial maturation, a process whereby microglial cells become able to function. This is good news, because we still haven't quite figured out how to treat certain neurodevelopmental disorders. But the only concern is that these "experiments" have only been performed on rodents, so we can't be fully certain that probiotic treatments will be able to improve brain function.

But there is a great deal of evidence suggesting that perturbations in the microbiome are linked with mental disorders. For example, people with depression have lower SCFA levels. It's not that this is particularly bad in itself; it's the problems that arise in the absence of these important organic acids. SCFAs are known to interfere with protein-protein interactions between a peptide called amyloid-B. This prevents the molecules from assembling into these scary -sounding (and looking) structures known as neurotoxic oligomers. These have been linked multiple times with cognitive deficits in humans. People with Parkinson's Disease, for instance, often have increased neurotoxin levels in their bodies.

So, what is the future like for this new field of neuromicrobiology? Well, a great deal of research needs to be done to further elucidate the role of microbes in controlling the brain and other activities in the body. We also need to consider the effects that new treatments could potentially have on the body. We know already that SCFAs bind to receptors on various cells in the body, even pancreas cells that produce insulin. It may not be a good idea to design a treatment intended to increase microbe diversity that could also destroy some other crucial part of the body. Neuromicrobiology is, for the most part, unexplored territory. We have yet to discover exactly how these microbes impact the human body, and whether they actually do have a causal relationship with diseases and brain disorders.