Characterization of Clostridium beijerinkii Br21 as a probiotic and psychobiotic

• Grant number: 20/15022-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: December 10, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Evelin Capellari Cárnio
• Grantee: Bruna Maitan Santos
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/17681-9 - Pathophysiological changes during systemic inflammation, AP.TEM

Abstract

Mental health currently stands out for its benefits in host immunometabolic profile, and serotonin has a fundamental role in this neuroimmune response. More recently, new evidence has been obtained indicating that intestinal microbiota can alter the host's mood. Along with this new knowledge, the search and evaluation of microorganisms with potential mental health benefits increases more and more every day. The microorganisms that can induce health benefits to the host in a certain amount are known as probiotics. Its importance is recognized by its trade that moves billions of dollars in the market. In 2013, a new term was given to probiotics which have confirmed benefits to mental health: psychobiotics. Thus, the host's mood alterations might be, in fact, a partial response dependent upon microbiota-gut-brain communication by neuroimmune routes. A possible subproduct of probiotics that has an anti-inflammatory capacity related to the production of serotonin is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid. Clostridium beijerinkii Br21 has the unique capacity to produce a large amount of this subproduct without producing any solvents. This pioneering work will evaluate the benefits of its administration as a psychobiotic in a preclinical model. Finally, once its effect as a psychobiotic is confirmed, we will evaluate the intervenient mechanism of this effect. We believe that chronic administration of Clostridium beijerinkii Br21 has a psichobiotic effect by modulating intestinal microbiota thus increasing butyrate and interfering in others metabolites production that have the capacity to increase intestinal serotonin biodisponibility and ameliorate de peripheral immune profile. These alterations will increase central serotonin biodisponibility, an important neurotransmitter in mood and systemic inflammation´s regulation. (AU)