Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress

Abstract Soil contains a wide range of microbial communities. Recently, direct exposure to soil and soil microbes has been reported to have a positive effect on emotional integrity. Among the soil microbes, Streptomyces rimosus is known to produce geosmin, which have a unique odor and positive effec...

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Main Authors: Jin Hee Kim, Jin Se Kim, Hyeyoon Eo, Sowon Yang, Choong Hwan Lee, Sin-Ae Park, Myung Sook Oh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13885-5
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author Jin Hee Kim
Jin Se Kim
Hyeyoon Eo
Sowon Yang
Choong Hwan Lee
Sin-Ae Park
Myung Sook Oh
author_facet Jin Hee Kim
Jin Se Kim
Hyeyoon Eo
Sowon Yang
Choong Hwan Lee
Sin-Ae Park
Myung Sook Oh
author_sort Jin Hee Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Soil contains a wide range of microbial communities. Recently, direct exposure to soil and soil microbes has been reported to have a positive effect on emotional integrity. Among the soil microbes, Streptomyces rimosus is known to produce geosmin, which have a unique odor and positive effects on mental status. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the effects of direct exposure to soil containing S. rimosus on depression-like behavior and depression-related factors in the mouse. To induce depression, the mice were exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS) for 14 days, and direct soil exposure continued for 17 days from the first day of CRS. The results showed that direct exposure to soil containing S. rimosus alleviated the CRS-induced depression-like behavior. Additionally, S. rimosus-rich soil exposure reduced the activation of microglia and astrocyte in the depression-related brain area, and reduced the mRNA expression levels of cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-γ, and IL-17 A. Moreover, S. rimosus-rich soil contact increased synaptic plasticity, which was reduced by CRS. The same effects were not observed in the group exposed to sterilized soil. Collectively, the current study suggests that S. rimosus soil contact can be a beneficial psychological therapeutic strategy for patients with mental illnesses.
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spelling doaj-art-18e3c585ee54431087bb1d56a7bf5d4b2025-08-20T03:05:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-13885-5Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stressJin Hee Kim0Jin Se Kim1Hyeyoon Eo2Sowon Yang3Choong Hwan Lee4Sin-Ae Park5Myung Sook Oh6Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityDepartment of Systems Biotechnology, Konkuk UniversityDepartment of Systems Biotechnology, Konkuk UniversityDepartment of Systems Biotechnology, Konkuk UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee UniversityAbstract Soil contains a wide range of microbial communities. Recently, direct exposure to soil and soil microbes has been reported to have a positive effect on emotional integrity. Among the soil microbes, Streptomyces rimosus is known to produce geosmin, which have a unique odor and positive effects on mental status. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the effects of direct exposure to soil containing S. rimosus on depression-like behavior and depression-related factors in the mouse. To induce depression, the mice were exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS) for 14 days, and direct soil exposure continued for 17 days from the first day of CRS. The results showed that direct exposure to soil containing S. rimosus alleviated the CRS-induced depression-like behavior. Additionally, S. rimosus-rich soil exposure reduced the activation of microglia and astrocyte in the depression-related brain area, and reduced the mRNA expression levels of cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-γ, and IL-17 A. Moreover, S. rimosus-rich soil contact increased synaptic plasticity, which was reduced by CRS. The same effects were not observed in the group exposed to sterilized soil. Collectively, the current study suggests that S. rimosus soil contact can be a beneficial psychological therapeutic strategy for patients with mental illnesses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13885-5Streptomyces rimosusSoil microbiomeDepressionNeuroinflammationSynaptic plasticity
spellingShingle Jin Hee Kim
Jin Se Kim
Hyeyoon Eo
Sowon Yang
Choong Hwan Lee
Sin-Ae Park
Myung Sook Oh
Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
Scientific Reports
Streptomyces rimosus
Soil microbiome
Depression
Neuroinflammation
Synaptic plasticity
title Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
title_full Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
title_fullStr Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
title_full_unstemmed Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
title_short Streptomyces rimosus-rich soil exposure alleviates depression-like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
title_sort streptomyces rimosus rich soil exposure alleviates depression like behaviors by modulating neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity in mice with stress
topic Streptomyces rimosus
Soil microbiome
Depression
Neuroinflammation
Synaptic plasticity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13885-5
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