Finding the needle in the haystack: systematic identification of psychobiotics

Reference Number: 79

Year: 2018

Authors: Aisling Bambury, Kiran Sandhu, John F Cryan,and Timothy G Dinan

Health: Gut Microbiome - Creating Healthier Bread to Support Optimal Gut Health

Summary

The brain–gut–microbiota axis is increasingly viewed as a novel paradigm in neuroscience with the capacity to generate innovative therapies for patients with psychiatric illnesses. Psychobiotics, defined as live bacteria, which when ingested in adequate amounts, confer mental health benefits, are increasingly of interest, as preclinical trials continue to show promising results. Particularly in stress?related, anxiety and depressive disorders, there is potential for psychobiotics to deliver new therapies. The question of which microbes may prove to be the most promising psychobiotic in delivering such therapies at a clinical level is of great importance. Here we look at the characteristics of psychobiotics, in an attempt to present an outline from which the identification of potential new psychobiotics may be possible.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STUDY

Personalized psycho biotics may have a r ole in the future. Many researchers have now recognized that though identical bacterial species colonize the human gut, varying genetics, life experiences and exposures alter the co mposition of the gut microbiota. This may affect the clinical presentation of the individual in various affective o r stress- related disorders. This will alter the best ‘prescribed’ probiotic required to address the individual’s anxiety or depression . Presently, however, the priority lies in identifying generic psychobiotics bene?cial to many patients, prior to individualization becoming a reality. As researchcontinues,the more fundamental the gut microbiota appears to be in affecting the entire system, at almost all conceivable levels. In order to confer the most bene?t from potential psychobiotics and develo p future therapeutics, c ontinuing to evaluate t he manner i n w hich they are altering the gut microbiota i s of upmost importance. The ability of potential psychobiotics to act on the areas outlined here will allow researchers to target trials on probiotics, probiotic formulations, prebiotics or s ynbiotics showi ng preclinical promise and avoid wasting valuable cost and time on

unlikely candidates. A targeted and predictive approach may, hopefully, allow the development of psychobiotics in a timely fashion.

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79 - ‘Finding the needle in the haystack: systematic identification of psychobiotics’. British Journal of Pharmacology.

Summary

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