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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish

PubMed: 40702822 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2536091

Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior.

Gut Microbes 17(1):2536091

Authors: Ruijie Bai, Tao Wang, Rongrong Gu, Yawei Cai, Juntao Chen, Wen Cai, Dianshuang Zhou, Ying Li, Jixun Luo, Xiangming Wang, Zuobin Zhu

Affiliations

  • Jiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China. The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • Jiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • Medical Technology College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
  • School of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China.
  • Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Abstract

The co-evolutionary relationship between gut microbiota and their hosts is influenced by microbial genetic variation, which enables adaptation to host environmental changes, modifies metabolic processes, and refines host-microbiota interactions. Investigating how gut microbial genetic variations influence host neurobehavior can provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. In this study, we screened a comprehensive single-gene knockout library of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and identified 370 mutant strains that reduced social behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Notably, five mutations in the L-tyrosine biosynthesis pathway significantly alter the social aggregation behavior of C. elegans via the TGF-β signaling pathway. These findings highlight the importance of considering both microbial genetic variation and community composition in the examination of gut microbe-host neurobehavioral interactions. The establishment of this relationship provides a reference and experimental basis for the development of genetically engineered probiotics aimed at regulating host behavior.

MeSH

Genetic Variation, Genes, Social Behavior, Escherichia Coli, Genetics, Microbial, Tyrosine, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Microbiota