Reference
Volkova, A., Ruggles, K., Schulfer, A., Gao, Z., Ginsberg, S. D., & Blaser, M. J. (2021). Effects of early-life penicillin exposure on the gut microbiome and frontal cortex and amygdala gene expression. iScience, 24(7), 102797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102797
Review
The study by Volkova et al. (2021) explores the effects of early-life exposure to low-dose penicillin on the gut microbiome and gene expression in the frontal cortex and amygdala of mice. The researchers used a model system that is highly relevant to human exposure and could potentially be developed into a preclinical model for neurodevelopmental disorders. The study found that early-life exposure to low-dose penicillin led to substantial changes in the intestinal microbiota population structure and composition.
Transcriptomic alterations in the study implicated pathways that are perturbed in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. The researchers also discovered significant effects on the frontal cortex and amygdala gene expression through bioinformatic interrogation, affecting multiple pathways underlying neurodevelopment. Informatic analyses established linkages between specific intestinal microbial populations and the early-life expression of particularly affected genes.
The study by Volkova et al. (2021) provides valuable insights into the potential effects of early-life antibiotic exposure on the gut microbiome and brain gene expression. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that supports the importance of the gut-brain axis in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. This research serves as a foundation for future studies exploring the role of the intestinal microbiome in the normal and abnormal maturation of the central nervous system.
