Gut microbiota–brain axis

The gut-brain axis along aging

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the physiology of the central nervous system and inflammation. Brain-gut communication enables bidirectional modulatory effects between the microbiota and the central nervous system, which might be involved in physiological and pathological events. Changes in the intestinal microbiota during aging show a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, presenting a higher proportion of Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Proteobacteria, and a decrease in Actinobacteria compared to young adults.

We are cultivating and analyzing thousands of bacterias from the Chilean population, in order to find new strains with positive effect over inflammation and aging.

Restoring the gut microbiome for healthy aging

Our research focuses on the search for bacterial consortia with effect over the aging process. Our aim is to restore the intestinal microbiota during aging, converting it into a healthier and more beneficial intestinal microbiota. For the generation of bacterial consortia, we have generated a bank of bacteria isolated from the intestinal microbiota of healthy Chileans with a wide diversity of bacteria strains. Hundreds of these isolated and taxonomically classified bacteria has been evaluated for their probiotic properties and we are currently generating consortia for in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, we are studying the gut microbiota in aged people, trying to correlate changes in their composition associated to the risk to develop brain conditions.

People involved

Paulina Calderón

Scientist

Biochemist, Ph.D. in Molecular Biosciences from Universidad Andrés Bello. Studying the bacteria of the human intestinal microbiota for the elaboration of bacterial consortia with therapeutic effects on people’s health.

Related Publications

PUBLICATIONSBioRxivNeuroDegenerationAGING

noviembre 25, 2021

Necroptosis inhibition counteracts axonal degeneration, cognitive decline and key hallmarks of aging, promoting brain rejuvenation.

Macarena S. Arrázola, Matías Lira, Gabriel Quiroz, Somya Iqbal, Samantha L Eaton, Rachel A Kline, Douglas J Lamont, Hernán Huerta, Gonzalo Ureta, Sebastián Bernales, J César Cárdenas, Waldo Cerpa,Thomas M. Wishart, Felipe A. Court

bioRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.10.468052

PUBLICATIONSDataCNSNeuroDegenerationAGING

octubre 7, 2021

Enhanced Activity of Exportin-1/CRM1 in Neurons Contributes to Autophagy Dysfunction and Senescent Features in Old Mouse Brain.

Gorostieta-Salas E, Moreno-Blas D, Gerónimo-Olvera C, Cisneros B, Court FA, Castro-Obregón S.

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Aug 13;2021:6682336. doi: 10.1155/2021/6682336. eCollection 2021.

PMID: 34434486

PUBLICATIONSReviewPNSNeuroRegeneration

octubre 7, 2021

New insights on the molecular mechanisms of collateral sprouting after peripheral nerve injury.

Lemaitre D, Court FA.

Neural Regen Res. 2021 Sep;16(9):1760-1761. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.306069.

PMID: 33510065

PUBLICATIONSReviewCNSNeuroDegenerationAGING

octubre 7, 2021

Dementia in Latin America: Paving the way toward a regional action plan.

Parra MA, Baez S, Sedeño L, Gonzalez Campo C, Santamaría-García H, Aprahamian I, Bertolucci PH, Bustin J, Camargos Bicalho MA, Cano-Gutierrez C, Caramelli P, Chaves MLF, Cogram P, Beber BC, Court FA, de Souza LC, Custodio N, Damian A, de la Cruz M, Diehl Rodriguez R, Brucki SMD, Fajersztajn L, Farías GA, De Felice FG, Ferrari R, de Oliveira FF, Ferreira ST, Ferretti C, Figueredo Balthazar ML, Ferreira Frota NA, Fuentes P, García AM, Garcia PJ, de Gobbi Porto FH, Duque Peñailillo L, Engler HW, Maier I, Mata IF, Gonzalez-Billault C, Lopez OL, Morelli L, Nitrini R, Quiroz YT, Guerrero Barragan A, Huepe D, Pio FJ, Suemoto CK, Kochhann R, Kochen S, Kumfor F, Lanata S, Miller B, Mansur LL, Hosogi ML, Lillo P, Llibre Guerra J, Lira D, Lopera F, Comas A, Avila-Funes JA, Sosa AL, Ramos C, Resende EPF, Snyder HM, Tarnanas I, Yokoyama J, Llibre J, Cardona JF, Possin K, Kosik KS, Montesinos R, Moguilner S, Solis PCL, Ferretti-Rebustini REL, Ramirez JM, Matallana D, Mbakile-Mahlanza L, Marques Ton AM, Tavares RM, Miotto EC, Muniz-Terrera G, Muñoz-Nevárez LA, Orozco D, Okada de Oliveira M, Piguet O, Pintado Caipa M, Piña Escudero SD, Schilling LP, Rodrigues Palmeira AL, Yassuda MS, Santacruz-Escudero JM, Serafim RB, Smid J, Slachevsky A, Serrano C, Soto-Añari M, Takada LT, Grinberg LT, Teixeira AL, Barbosa MT, Trépel D, Ibanez A.

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Feb;17(2):295-313. doi: 10.1002/alz.12202. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

PMID: 33634602

Las células de Schwann dificultarían la regeneración neuronal

noviembre 15, 2023

Javiera Mateluna Cuadra, 10 noviembre 2023, 17:00 hs Tiempo de lectura: 2 minutosEl trabajo, liderado por el laboratorio del Dr. Felipe Court, académico de la Universidad Mayor y que fue…

Descubren rol clave de células que impiden reparar daños al sistema nervioso periférico

octubre 30, 2023

El trabajo, liderado por el laboratorio del Dr. Felipe Court, académico de la Universidad Mayor y que fue publicado en la destacada revista EMBO Molecular Medicine, caracteriza por primera vez las…