Gut Microbiome Influences in Mood Disorders: Unveiling the Gut-Brain Axis

The gut-brain axis represents a critical pathway in neuropsychiatric research, linking the central nervous system with the gastrointestinal tract through a complex network of communication channels. Central to this axis is the gut microbiome, which plays a significant role in mediating neural, immune, and metabolic responses. Recent studies have increasingly shown alterations within the gut microbiota that correlate closely with mood-related disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia, and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). Despite substantial progress in understanding these associations, gaps remain in fully unraveling the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome influences mood regulation and mental health.

This Research Topic aims to elucidate the dynamic interplay between gut microbiota and neuropsychiatric functions within vertebrates. Key objectives include uncovering mechanistic insights, like how microbial metabolites modulate neurotransmission and immune responses to impact neuroinflammation, and exploring the translational impact of interventions on mood symptoms. By integrating microbiology, neuroscience, psychiatry, and immunology, this endeavor seeks to highlight innovative strategies, ultimately paving the path for microbiome-based interventions in treating mood disorders. Suggested themes include microbial metabolites' roles, gut microbial profiles in mood disorders, and the influence of antibiotics, diet, and probiotics on the gut-brain axis. Utilizing multi-omics approaches, animal models, and clinical data to explore these themes promises to yield useful therapeutic insights.

Our scope includes a wide range of studies to advance the appreciation of the gut-brain axis within mental health contexts, albeit focusing on vertebrate systems. To gather further insights, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Characterization of gut microbial profiles in mood-related disorders
o Molecular pathways mediating gut-brain communication in mental health
o The role of microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and neurotransmitter precursors
o Impact of antibiotics, diet, and probiotics on the gut-brain axis in mood pathology
o Cross-species and translational studies in vertebrate models
o Microbiome signatures as biomarkers for diagnosis or treatment response

We invite contributions from diverse disciplines to foster innovation and progress within this interdisciplinary and rapidly advancing field of study.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: mood disorders, Gut-brain axis, Microbiome, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.