The Microbiota And

Its Affects on the

Brain
Khaled Almansoob

What is the Microbiome?

Source: Seres Health

Influence of dietary and

environmental factors on the
microbiome

Introduction
Early life environmental influences have a profound impact
on the organisms later development, structure, and function.
Environmental factors during a sensitive developmental
period may exert an effect that persist throughout life.
gut microbiota can have developmental effects on several
organs in the body.
There is an association between common
neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and
schizophrenia, and microbial pathogen infections during the
perinatal period( 20th week of gestation - 4 weeks after birth).

Hypothesis
the normal gut microbiota is an integral part of the
external environmental signals that modulate brain
development and function.

Germ Free (GF) Mice Display

Increased Motor Activity

GF mice display reduced

anxiety-like behavior

Conventionalization of GF mice
Took Microbiota from SPF mice and gave them to a new
set of GF mice, turning them into a new set of
conventionalized mice (CON).
Introducing microbiota early in life altered the mice
behavior and they spent less time in the open arm.
Conventionalization of adult mice did not normalize
their behavior.
this suggest that there is a critical period early in life
when gut microbiota can affect the brian.