title: Communication between gastrointestinal bacteria and the nervous system.
abstract: In the past few years, intestinal microbiota has emerged as a novel target for the treatment of gut-brain axis alterations. These include functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can be comorbid with stress-related psychiatric conditions. Thus, modulation of the microbiota (e.g. with the use of probiotics) could be proposed as a novel strategy not only for the treatment of IBS but also as an adjuvant for psychiatric treatment of anxiety and depression.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile. javier.bravo@ucv.cl
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Julio-Pieper
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forsythe
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kunze
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dinan
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bienenstock
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cryan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology