Bacteria engage in dialogue with neurons: A direct interaction between gut bacteria and neurons uncovered in Turin
Study Reveals Direct Bacterial-Neuron Communication
In a groundbreaking development, a joint study conducted by the University of Turin and the Complutense University of Madrid has uncovered a new mechanism through which a food-derived probiotic bacterium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, can directly modulate neuronal activity. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports (Nature group), have significant implications for the fields of neurology and psychiatry.
The study, led by neuro-psychiatrist Stefano Geuna, Rector of the University of Turin, opens the way for new therapeutic approaches. According to Geuna, potential future treatments for severe and widespread neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, may involve intervening in the intestinal microbiota with targeted dietary strategies.
The research team developed an in vitro model, placing rat cortical neurons and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in direct contact. In this controlled environment, the bacteria caused immediate, measurable shifts in neuronal electrical activity and structural changes, demonstrating direct bacterial-neuron communication.
This direct interaction represents a paradigm shift in cellular biology and neuroscience. Unlike traditional gut-brain axis mechanisms that typically depend on immune signaling or metabolite-mediated pathways, this new mechanism involves a more immediate electrical signaling influence by the bacteria themselves on neurons.
Real-time analysis of neuronal activity, conducted via calcium imaging, showed an increase in intracellular signaling dependent on both bacterial concentration and their active metabolism. Moreover, the study showed changes not only in electrophysiological properties but also in neuronal transcriptional profiles, indicating altered gene expression potentially linked to bioelectric signaling pathways.
The bacteria were observed to bind to the neuronal surface without penetrating the nucleus. This modulation of neuronal activity by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum occurs without the need for the bacterium to cross barriers or require immune mediation.
The work aligns with the growing scientific interest in the gut-brain axis. The bioelectric signals involved in this interaction represent a new frontier in biological research. The study's findings have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the communication between intestinal microbiota and the nervous system.
In summary, the study reveals that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum shapes neuronal activity by direct contact and bioelectrical communication with neurons, bypassing immune signaling pathways, as shown in recent experimental models. This discovery could pave the way for new treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
[1] Geuna, S., et al. (2025). Lactiplantibacillus plantarum directly modulates neuronal activity through bioelectric signals by physically interacting with neurons. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-12.
[2] Verdu, E. F., et al. (2025). Neurobacterial interface model reveals direct modulation of neuronal activity by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-12.
- The study's findings suggest potential future treatments for anxiety and depression could involve targeting health-and-wellness through dietary strategies, as the study reveals a previously unseen average of direct bacterial-neuron communication between Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and cortical neurons, a communication facilitated through bioelectric signals.
- The technological advancements in scientific research, such as calcium imaging, have been instrumental in understanding medical-conditions like neuropsychiatric disorders, allowing researchers to observe real-time changes in neuronal activity due to the average interactions between gut bacteria and neurons, revolutionising our understanding of the gut-brain axis and providing new avenues for health-and-wellness interventions.
