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A groundbreaking discovery from Duke University School of Medicine reveals a direct connection between the microbiome and the brain, shedding new light on the regulation of behavior and appetite.
In a major scientific development, researchers have identified a new way the brain and gut interact, unveiling what they describe as a “neurobiotic sense.” This previously unknown system allows the brain to receive immediate signals from the microbes that live in the gut.
The study, published in Nature and conducted by neuroscientists Diego Bohórquez, PhD, and M. Maya Kaelberer, PhD, at Duke University School of Medicine, focuses on specialized cells called neuropods. These tiny sensory cells, found in the lining of the colon, are able to recognize a common protein produced by gut bacteria. Once detected, the neuropods quickly relay signals to the brain, helping to reduce food intake.
According to the researchers, this discovery may only scratch the surface. They suggest that the neurobiotic sense could represent a broader mechanism through which the gut monitors microbial activity. This system might affect not only eating behavior but also emotional states—and potentially, how the brain influences the microbial environment in the gut.
“We were curious whether the body could sense microbial patterns in real time and not just as an immune or inflammatory response, but as a neural response that guides behavior in real time,” said Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine and senior author of the study.