2021 SUMMARY REPORT - Mind, Mood & Microbes
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Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
SUMMARY REPORT
2021
THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
MICROBIOTA-GUT-BRAIN AXIS
While the gut-brain axis is not a new topic of study, the role of the microbiota in gut-brain
communication is a relatively recent area of investigation. Evidence continues to accumulate on
how gut microbes modulate brain development and function across the lifespan—establishing
the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a potential target for influencing human mood and behaviour.
At present, those in the field continue to make use of preclinical models while advancing the
preliminary clinical translations of these insights that exist to date.
Mind, Mood & Microbes is the global event, held every two years, that brings together leading
scientists, healthcare professionals, and industry partners from various fields of expertise to
share progress in the field of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The third edition of this event was
held virtually on May 19th and 20th, 2021—with a global lineup of speakers and participants
joining for discussions and presentations on the leading-edge science in this field.
Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
Keynote 1
Martin Blaser of Rutgers University use, including neuropsychiatric diseases.
gave the opening keynote entitled, He showed data demonstrating the
“Perturbing the Early-life Microbiome impact of early-life antibiotics not
Alters Development at a Critical Stage”. only on metabolism and immunity, but
Blaser’s work linking early-life antibiotic also on brain development. In mice, an Martin Blaser
Director of the Center for Advanced
exposure to metabolic disease is well altered microbiota at an early stage in Biotechnology and Medicine
known—but recently he has expanded development led to long-term effects Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
these investigations to encompass other on gene expression and brain-related
conditions associated with antibiotic phenotypes.
Session 1: Microbiota-brain Axis – Biological Pathways
and Molecular Mechanisms
The first session covered new work brain-related conditions. Schellekens and
related to the three main mechanisms colleagues have developed a pipeline
of microbiota-gut-brain communication: to screen gut microbes for probiotic
microbial metabolites, immune-related and functional characteristics. They are
mechanisms, and direct stimulation of particularly interested in commensal Harriët Schellekens
Lecturer
nerve fibers. Harriët Schellekens of bacteria that make GPCR ligands, which University College Cork
University College Cork, Ireland, described mimic human signalling molecules and
a targeted approach for identifying modulate gut-brain axis function in
bacterial strains and their metabolites relation to stress and metabolism.
that could be used as drugs to address
Ivan de Araujo, from the Icahn School of sensory neurons that transmit reward
Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, spoke associations via the vagus nerve—and
about mechanisms involving the vagus these findings establish the vagal gut-
nerve, focusing on how information to-brain axis as an integral component
about the nutritional quality of food of the neuronal reward pathway. They Ivan Araujo
Professor of Neuroscience
reaches the brain. He showed that also suggest novel vagal stimulation Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
neurons mediating food reward are not approaches for affective disorders.
confined to the brain, but also exist in
the periphery. In the gut, de Araujo found
Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
Daniel Mucida of The Rockefeller and prolonged neuronal loss after enteric
University, New York, covered neuro- infection; this led to long-term functional
immune interactions in the gut, changes in gut motility. He noted that
highlighting the importance of the the gut microbiota are essential to how
Daniel Mucida
enteric nervous system. Mucida’s enteric infection results in neuronal loss.
Associate Professor
preclinical work showed site-specific The Rockefeller University
Models are important in the microbiota- stem cells, with organs in direct contact
gut-brain axis field, given that relevant as well as live fluorescent bacteria. A
mechanisms are often difficult to strength of the model is that it allows
observe in humans. Lena Sophie tracking of mucus formation in the
Koch from University of Twente, the intestine. The model may provide insights Lena Sophie Koch
PhD Candidate
Netherlands, spoke about “Insights into into molecular pathways and may University of Twente
Interactions of the Microbiome-gut-brain have particular relevance for studying
Axis on a Microfluidic Chip”, describing Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
a model system of the microbiome-gut- disease.
brain axis featuring mini organs from
Session 2: Microbiota-Brain Axis and Neurodevelopment
Autism spectrum disorders are of emotional states in mice, and may play
particular interest when it comes a role in the development of autism
to the role of gut microbes in spectrum disorders. Osman focused
neurodevelopment. Session 2 featured on different gut-microbiota-derived Sarkis Mazmanian
two talks on autism, by Sarkis molecules, short-chain fatty acids, Luis & Nelly Soux Professor of
Mazmanian, California Institute of which can cross act locally and impact Microbiology
California Institute of Technology
Technology, and Aya Osman, Icahn the brain, and alter gene expression and
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/ epigenetic regulation. She showed the
Seaver Autism Center for Research role of gut-derived acetate in a mouse
and Treatment. Mazmanian showed model of autism spectrum disorder and
how molecules from gut bacteria posited that altered acetate production
– in particular, a gut microbial may contribute to the development of Aya Osman
neurotransmitter (4-ethylphenol) this condition. Department of Psychiatry
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
– mediate behaviors indicative of Sinai/Seaver Autism Center for
Research and Treatment
Helen Vuong of University of California metabolites, the maternal microbiome
Los Angeles covered how the can modify neurological responses to
homeostatic maternal gut microbiome genetic and environmental risk factors
(that is, with no environmental challenge) for disease in preclinical models—with
shapes fetal brain development. Vuong’s her work showing functional changes Helen Vuong
Postdoctoral Fellow
work shows the maternal microbiome in cortical neurons that affect tactile University of California
is required for thalamocortical axon sensitivity.
growth in the fetal brain. Via microbial
Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
Rebecca Knickmeyer of Michigan State later. Meanwhile, the composition of the
University shared about a clinical study 12-month gut microbiome is associated
associating the infant gut microbiome with concurrent fear reactivity. Overall,
with cortisol reactivity and fear Knickmeyer says, certain features of
behavior—that is, the anxiety-related gut microbiome are strongly associated Rebecca Knickmeyer
Associate Professor
circuits of the brain. Findings showed with infants’ cognitive development, Michigan State University
that the diversity of gut microbes at regional brain volumes, functional
one month of age is associated with brain connectivity, and responses
concurrent HPA axis function, and also to frightening or unpleasant stimuli.
predicts fear reactivity in a task one year Mechanisms remain to be deciphered.
Keynote 2
Hailan Hu opened Day 2 of the event bursts of activity in a certain region of
with a keynote lecture on investigating the brain—the lateral habenula, called the
the anti-depressive mechanisms of ‘anti-reward center’—is responsible for
the drug ketamine, hypothesizing that how it attenuates depressive behaviors.
a model explaining ketamine’s effect Understanding this mechanism further Hailan Hu
Professor
on depression can help us understand could eventually lead to novel, quick- Zhejiang University
the roots of depression. Hu’s work acting therapies for depression in
has shown that in rodent models of humans.
depression, ketamine’s ability to block
Session 3: The Microbiota-Brain Axis and Psychiatric Disorders
Felice Jacka of Deakin University, disorders is complex, but Jacka said
Australia, spoke about “Nutritional evidence supports diet as a contributor
psychiatry and the diet-microbiota-brain to depression rather than depression
axis”. Jacka described a forthcoming driving food choices. Relating these
systematic review on how gut microbiota associations to the gut microbiota, Felice Jacka
Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry and
associates with mental disorders – a reduction in butyrate-producing Psychiatric Epidemiology
some patterns emerge over 33 studies, bacteria is observed in those with mental Deakin University
showing links between mood disorders disorders, with an increase in abundance
and diet. Causality of psychiatric of lactate-producing bacteria.
Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
Jeroen Raes of KU Leuven, Belgium, quality of life—with inflammation and
spoke about “Quantitative Microbiome lower butyrate production by the gut
Profiling in Health and Disease”, microbiota as possible underlying
covering population-scale evidence factors. Using the population-level data,
for microbiome links to mental health. Raes has used bioinformatic analysis Jeroen Raes
Professor
Raes’ work has found one enterotype (or to put together a catalogue of the KU Leuven - VIB
pattern of gut microbiota composition) neuroactive potential of gut prokaryotes,
associated with inflammatory diseases although causality remains unclear.
as well as depression and lower
The next two talks focused on early of pregnancy, since accumulating
life and later psychiatric illness. Mary evidence suggests intervening during
Kimmel from University of North Carolina this critical time can have long-term
spoke about “Mother’s Microbiota-Gut- effects on families and communities.
Mary Kimmel
Brain Axis: Keys to Infant Development”. After this talk, Ana Santos of Carleton Assistant Professor and Co-Director,
Kimmel said it’s well established that a University, Ottawa, shared her human Perinatal Psychiatry Program
mother’s and baby’s mood are linked – study exploring associations between University of North Carolina School of
Medicine
and now we are seeing research showing chronic childhood adversity, diet quality,
the biological connection between the and gut microbiota in relation to severity
two. She showed maternal impacts on of depressive and anxiety symptoms.
infant stress reactivity: higher anhedonia The work showed that the interplay
(loss of pleasure) in the mother between diet and severity of depression
associates with babies having less vagal and anxiety in adulthood may depend Ana Santos
reactivity. Kimmel encouraged her fellow on adverse childhood experiences in the PhD Student
Carleton University - Department of
researchers to think about how they can past; in those with early life adversity, Neuroscience
adapt their models of the microbiota-gut- particular links were found between gut The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health
brain axis to account for the complexity microbes and depression severity. Research
Session 4: The Microbiota-Brain Axis and Neurological Disorders
Arthur Liesz, LMU University Munich, appear to promote disease progression.
shared his intriguing work on microbiota- Liesz noted that his work used SCFAs
derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in supplemented in the drinking water of
animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. For animals, which could potentially have
some neurodegenerative diseases, SCFAs different effects from SCFAs produced in Arthur Liesz
Professor of Neurology
appear protective, but the opposite effect the colon from fiber fermentation. LMU University Munich
is seen for Alzheimer’s disease: the SCFAs
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was preliminary data on how supplementing
the focus of the talk by Eran Elinav, from mice with Akkermansia or a specific
Weizmann Institute of Science. Elinav bioactive metabolite slows down damage
outlined the hypothesized links between to motor neurons and disease progression
ALS and the gut microbiota, showing in a mouse model of ALS. Eran Elinav
Principal Investigator
Weizmann Institute of Science
Summary Report 2021 Mind, Mood & Microbes
Parkinson’s disease is the focus of more of Texas Health Science Center at
studies on the microbiota-gut-brain axis Houston, followed up Tansey’s talk with
from the past few years. Malu Tansey a presentation on dysphagia (that is,
of University of Florida focused on dysfunctional swallowing) in Parkinson’s
Malu Gámez Tansey
sporadic Parkinson’s disease, and the disease. Jeter noted the oral microbiota Professor/Co-Director
relationship between the microbiota, is less affected by an individual’s diet University of Florida
gut barrier, inflammatory markers, and than is the gut microbiota, but the
clinical features. Tansey emphasized oral microbiota may show signatures
the changing view that Parkinson’s of certain diseases or symptoms.
disease is a multi-system disease Differences in oral microbial taxa were
rather than just a motor disease. Data observed in people with Parkinson’s
suggest communication between the disease compared with healthy controls,
gut and brain and peripheral circulation with an increase in oral pathogens. Cameron B. Jeter
Associate Professor, Department of
is key for brain health, but may go awry Jeter has found the oral microbiome Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences
with increasing age. She explained in Parkinson’s may be related to the The University of Texas Health Science
that immune cell aging and chronic severity of dysphagia and suggests the Center at Houston
inflammation may contribute to the oral microbiome could be a biomarker
“perfect storm” for the development for swallowing difficulties long before
of Parkinson’s disease, and that SCFAs individuals with Parkinson’s disease
may be protective in delaying symptom complain of dysphagia.
onset. Cameron B. Jeter, of The University
FOUNDING PARTNER
CO-FOUNDING PARTNER GOLD SPONSOR
Thank you to the organizing committee, program committee and speakers for making this
conference happen! Stay tuned for the next edition of the event, planned for 2023.
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