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The Arnold Pfeffer Center for Neuropsychoanalysis

The Microbiome and Mind:  Microbiota-host interactions in mood and mental health

Saturday, February 10, 2018

10:00 am

Presenter: Jane Foster, Ph.D.

Researchers in psychiatry and neuroscience are increasingly recognizing the importance of microbiota to brain communication in mental health. Scientists have established the link between gut bacteria and anxiety-like behaviours in animal models and with emotional brain regions in healthy people. Work to date by our group and others suggest that microbiota influence brain structure, gene expression of stress-related and plasticity-related genes, stress-reactivity, and behaviour. Recent work in our lab has focused on how the interaction between microbiota and host genetics influence brain structure and behaviour. Bacterial community profiling of 16SrRNA gene was carried out using a modified bar-coded Illumina sequencing method in the McMaster Genome Center in different strains of mice. Strain-specific differences in microbiota richness and diversity were observed. The taxonomic profile of the microbiota showed significant strain differences in relative abundance of clinically relevant commensals such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobaccilus, Alistipes, and Prevotella. Initial analysis shows that significant strain differences in specific bacteria are associated with anxiety-related behaviours. Our results show that microbiota and host genetics influence behaviour – deciphering the molecular mechanisms involved is necessary to advance the use of microbiota-targeted therapies for use in clinical populations.

Dr. Jane Foster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. She holds a research appointment as a Scientific Associate with the University Health Network and as a Scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, ON. Dr. Foster is an active researcher in two large translational networks –  the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network (POND) and the Canadian Biomarkers in Depression (CAN-BIND). Dr. Foster’s research focuses on the role of immune-brain and gut-brain interactions on neurodevelopment, behaviour, and brain function. She hopes that her research accomplishments lead to a better understanding of how these relationships contribute to psychiatric disorders such as neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety and depression.

2 CME/CE credits offered.

Educational Objectives: Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the nature of gut microbiota and their role in host physiology.
2. Refer to the clinical and pre-clinical research that supports a role for microbiota in brain function and behaviour.
3. Consider the potential role for microbiota-related biomarkers and/or microbiota-targeted therapeutics in understanding and treating mental illness.