MOODYGUT: The link between GUT microbiota and MOOD disorders under scrutinY from humans to mice: spotlight on depression

Clinical depression significantly impacts society and the economy and is linked to the gut microbiome - the community of microorganisms in our intestines. Recent studies suggest that transferring gut bacteria from depressed individuals to animals can induce similar symptoms, highlighting potential new treatment options. Depression often co-occurs with inflammatory bowel diseases, emphasizing the importance of understanding the gut-brain connection.

We aim to identify specific gut bacteria associated with depression and inflammatory bowel diseases, explore their effects on the brain and body, and investigate the role of the the vagus nerve in depression – one of the brain-body communication routes. By combining human data and animal models across Germany, Switzerland, and Israel, the research seeks to uncover how gut bacteria influence depression differently in males and females, ultimately guiding innovative mental health interventions.

Cooperating partners

Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)

Katarzyna Winek

Otto-von-Guericke University Madgeburg

Gürsel Caliskan

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Eran Blacher

University of Bern, Switzerland

Bahtiyar Yilmaz

Further information:

https://www.neuron-eranet.eu/projects/MOODYGUT/