The gastrointestinal tract harbors a diverse microbial community, collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. Interconnected via neural, endocrine, and immune pathways, the gut serves as a vital component of physiological homeostasis. The composition of the gut microbiome profoundly influences the body's responsiveness to external stimuli, implicating gut dysbiosis in various diseases, including neuropsychiatric diseases like depression. Current research endeavors aim to elucidate the intricate dynamics of the gut-brain axis in disease pathogenesis and prevention, utilizing animal models to manipulate gut-brain pathways. In this particular investigation, the immune system of C. elegans was modulated through pathogen exposure to investigate the role of the gut-brain axis in mediating behavioral responses to environmental cues. To dissect the genetic underpinnings of these behaviors, C. elegans were subjected to C. albicans infection for varying lengths of time and the expression of five immune-related genes was targeted via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Upregulation of these genes in response to prolonged pathogen exposure underscored the intertwined roles of genetics and microbiome composition in neuroimmune modulation through the gut-brain axis. Given the structural similarities between C. elegans and the human body, these results carry significant implications for future investigations into human health and disease. The treatment landscape for depression, for instance, has long been dominated by the notion of a chemical imbalance in the brain, a model perpetuated by the widespread prescription of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Recent critiques, however, challenge the validity of both this theory and the mechanisms of SSRIs, which have failed to provide relief for many individuals. Emerging research in nutritional psychiatry offers promising alternatives to traditional pharmacological approaches. Studies suggesting a link between the microbiome and mental health support the benefits of dietary interventions and probiotics in mitigating depressive symptoms. By exploring alternative treatments and fostering collaboration between conventional and natural medicine, we can better serve the diverse needs of individuals struggling with “treatment-resistant” depression. Integrating non-traditional approaches into mainstream psychiatry, however, will undoubtedly be challenging, as it requires psychiatrists' willingness to think outside the “pillbox.”

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Wood, Alexis

Subject

• Health
• Learning
• Food
• Well-Being

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042324-094131
• 121357

Parola chiave

• SSRI
• Gut-brain axis
• Chemical Imbalance
• C. elegans
• Behavior
• Depression

Advisor

• Lessing, Shana
• Rao, Reeta Prusty

Year

• 2024

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 10 - Reducing Inequality

Date created

• 2024-04-23

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Source

• E-project-042324-094131

Rights statement

• In Copyright