Why does the microbiome affect behaviour?
Growing evidence indicates that the mammalian microbiome can affect behaviour, and several symbionts even produce neurotransmitters. One common explanation for these observations is that symbionts have evolved to manipulate host behaviour for their benefit. Here, we evaluate the manipulation hypothe...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2018
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| _version_ | 1826299518193238016 |
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| author | Johnson, K Foster, K |
| author_facet | Johnson, K Foster, K |
| author_sort | Johnson, K |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Growing evidence indicates that the mammalian microbiome can affect behaviour, and several symbionts even produce neurotransmitters. One common explanation for these observations is that symbionts have evolved to manipulate host behaviour for their benefit. Here, we evaluate the manipulation hypothesis by applying evolutionary theory to recent work on the gut-brain axis. Although the theory predicts manipulation by symbionts under certain conditions, these appear rarely satisfied by the genetically diverse communities of the mammalian microbiome. Specifically, any symbiont investing its resources to manipulate host behaviour is expected to be outcompeted within the microbiome by strains that do not manipulate and redirect their resources into growth and survival. Moreover, current data provide no clear evidence for manipulation. Instead, we show how behavioural effects can readily arise as a by-product of natural selection on microorganisms to grow within the host and natural selection on hosts to depend upon their symbionts. We argue that understanding why the microbiome influences behaviour requires a focus on microbial ecology and local effects within the host. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:03:09Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:d9007645-90f2-4470-8f3b-dccf6d9bde5f |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T05:03:09Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:d9007645-90f2-4470-8f3b-dccf6d9bde5f2022-03-27T08:52:48ZWhy does the microbiome affect behaviour?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d9007645-90f2-4470-8f3b-dccf6d9bde5fEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordNature Publishing Group2018Johnson, KFoster, KGrowing evidence indicates that the mammalian microbiome can affect behaviour, and several symbionts even produce neurotransmitters. One common explanation for these observations is that symbionts have evolved to manipulate host behaviour for their benefit. Here, we evaluate the manipulation hypothesis by applying evolutionary theory to recent work on the gut-brain axis. Although the theory predicts manipulation by symbionts under certain conditions, these appear rarely satisfied by the genetically diverse communities of the mammalian microbiome. Specifically, any symbiont investing its resources to manipulate host behaviour is expected to be outcompeted within the microbiome by strains that do not manipulate and redirect their resources into growth and survival. Moreover, current data provide no clear evidence for manipulation. Instead, we show how behavioural effects can readily arise as a by-product of natural selection on microorganisms to grow within the host and natural selection on hosts to depend upon their symbionts. We argue that understanding why the microbiome influences behaviour requires a focus on microbial ecology and local effects within the host. |
| spellingShingle | Johnson, K Foster, K Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title | Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title_full | Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title_fullStr | Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title_short | Why does the microbiome affect behaviour? |
| title_sort | why does the microbiome affect behaviour |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnsonk whydoesthemicrobiomeaffectbehaviour AT fosterk whydoesthemicrobiomeaffectbehaviour |