** Scientists have identified a key mechanism by which *Morganella morganii* bacteria may contribute to the development of major depressive disorder.
📍 ** United States (Harvard Medical School)
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Researchers are increasingly recognizing the vital role the gut microbiome plays in overall health, including its connection to brain function. However, the precise ways in which specific bacteria influence the brain and contribute to diseases like depression remain largely unknown. One bacterium, *Morganella morganii*, has repeatedly been linked to depression in studies, yet the cause-and-effect relationship has been unclear - was the bacteria causing the depression, or did the depression alter the microbiome, or was there another factor at play?
A team at Harvard Medical School has now unveiled a crucial biological mechanism that strengthens the link between *M. morganii* and brain health. Their study, published in the *Journal of the American Chemical Society*, reveals that the bacterium produces a molecule called diethanolamine (DEA), which, when altered, triggers a cascade of inflammation by activating the immune system and releasing inflammatory proteins like interleukin-6 (IL-6). This discovery suggests that DEA could be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of depression.
The finding has significant implications for understanding the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and mental health. DEA is found in various industrial, agricultural, and consumer products, potentially exposing individuals to this triggering molecule. Further research is planned to determine if DEA directly causes depression and to explore how this process might be involved in a greater number of cases, potentially paving the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Original Source: Link
** #GutMicrobiome #Depression #MentalHealth #Microbiota #Inflammation #Neuroscience #Research #MorganellaMorganii