The DOI matches its Crossref record; 192 of the 195 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The gut microbiota–brain axis in behaviour and brain disorders
Abstract
In a striking display of trans-kingdom symbiosis, gut bacteria cooperate with their animal hosts to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic and nervous systems through dynamic bidirectional communication along the 'gut-brain axis'. These processes may affect human health, as certain animal behaviours appear to correlate with the composition of gut bacteria, and disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in several neurological disorders. Most insights about host-microbiota interactions come from animal models, which represent crucial tools for studying the various pathways linking the gut and the brain. However, there are complexities and manifest limitations inherent in translating complex human disease to reductionist animal models. In this Review, we discuss emerging and exciting evidence of intricate and crucial connections between the gut microbiota and the brain involving multiple biological systems, and possible contributions by the gut microbiota to neurological disorders. Continued advances from this frontier of biomedicine may lead to tangible impacts on human health.
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In the citing paper
“This two-way communication, involving the vagus nerve, immune modulation, and microbial metabolism, plays a crucial role in regulating emotions, cognitive function, and behavior.”
From The Impact of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 on Anxiety and Depression: An 8-Week Clinical Pilot Study Through the Gut Microbiota–Brain Axis (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
In the citing paper
“Evidence has unveiled the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, referred to as the “microbiota–gut–brain axis”.”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“Although the gut and brain are anatomically separated, several pathways by which the gut microbiota communicates with the CNS have been proposed. These include modulation of the immune system, vagus nerve, enteric nervous system (ENS), neuroendocrine system, and circulatory system via the production of neuroactive substances, metabolites, and hormones (Fig. 1).31,32”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“The gut microbiota contributes to host physiology and brain health by generating a variety of metabolites through bacterial de novo metabolism and by modifying host-derived molecules.31,270”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“The gut microbiota influences the development and function of microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells [93].”
From Unraveling the Connections: Eating Issues, Microbiome, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2025) · cites this paper as [93]
Citations
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Dumitru, C. N., Dumitru, A. O., Popa, G. V., Marcu, T., Ursu, M., Nechita, A., & Matei, N. M. (2026) · Dentistry Journal · doi:10.3390/dj14050289 · Cited by 6
CauTrigger: deciphering biological system state transitions by hierarchical causal decomposition
Zhang, C., Cai, D., Aihara, K., & Chen, L. (2026) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/s41592-026-03274-9
Metadata
- Authors
- Morais, L. H., Schreiber, H. L., & Mazmanian, S. K.
- Affiliations
- California Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mazmanian, Sarkis K.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Microbiology
- Published
- 2020-10-22
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 241-255
- ISSN
- 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
- 1740-1534
- OpenAlex
- W3094330590
- Cited by
- 2,149
- References
- 195
- Citations by year
- 2026: 372 · 2025: 443 · 2024: 493 · 2023: 392 · 2022: 315 · 2021: 131 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 20.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, host-microbiota interactions, animal behavior, neurological disorders, animal models of disease, two-way communication, immune regulation, metabolic regulation, brain development
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Host Microbial Interactions, Animals, Bacteria, Brain, Brain Diseases, Humans, Symbiosis, Models, Animal
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