title: Effects of Stress on Commensal Microbes and Immune System Activity.
abstract: The body harbors a vast array of microbes that are collectively known as the microbiota. Increasing attention is being paid to the role of the gut microbiota in the health of the host. Gut microbial communities are relatively resistant to change, though alterations in homeostasis can also significantly change gut microbial community structure. An important factor that has been demonstrated to alter the composition of the gut microbiota is exposure to psychological stressors. And, evidence indicates that the commensal microbiota are involved in stressor-induced immunomodulation. This chapter will discuss the impact of psychosocial stress on immunity, and present evidence that stressor-induced alterations in the composition of gut microbial communities contributes to stressor-induced immunomodulation and neurobiological sequelae. Finally, the role of the microbiota in the perinatal time period will be explored, and an integrative hypothesis of the role of the microbiome in health and stress response will be proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Tamar.Gur@osumc.edu.|Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Tamar.Gur@osumc.edu.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Tamar.Gur@osumc.edu.|Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, 460 Medical Drive, Room 253, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Tamar.Gur@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Tamar L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA. Michael.Bailey2@nationwidechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Gut-brain axis; Immunomodulation; Microbiome; Psychosocial stress; Stress