The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy

Abstract

The gut microbiota is increasingly being found to contribute to the etiology and severity of multiple diseases, including within the central nervous system (CNS). This microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis facilitates communication between gut microbes and the brain to regulate behavior. The gut microbiota is increasingly being found to contribute to the etiology and severity of multiple diseases, including within the central nervous system (CNS). This microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis facilitates communication between gut microbes and the brain to regulate behavior. Communication along the axis occurs via multiple routes, including the vagus nerve, gut-derived neurohormones, and immune cells, and more recently, a role for microbial metabolites has been uncovered. This commentary highlights the recent findings by H. Fang, Y. Wang, J. Deng, H. Zhang, et al. (mSystems 7 :e01399-21, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01399-21 ) on the role of gut microbiota and bacterial metabolites in mediating sepsis-associated encephalopathy in a mouse model of cecal puncture and ligation.