Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior

The co-evolutionary relationship between gut microbiota and their hosts is influenced by microbial genetic variation, which enables adaptation to host environmental changes, modifies metabolic processes, and refines host–microbiota interactions. Investigating how gut microbial genetic variations inf...

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Main Authors: Ruijie Bai, Tao Wang, Rongrong Gu, Yawei Cai, Juntao Chen, Wen Cai, Dianshuang Zhou, Ying Li, Jixun Luo, Xiangming Wang, Zuobin Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2536091
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author Ruijie Bai
Tao Wang
Rongrong Gu
Yawei Cai
Juntao Chen
Wen Cai
Dianshuang Zhou
Ying Li
Jixun Luo
Xiangming Wang
Zuobin Zhu
author_facet Ruijie Bai
Tao Wang
Rongrong Gu
Yawei Cai
Juntao Chen
Wen Cai
Dianshuang Zhou
Ying Li
Jixun Luo
Xiangming Wang
Zuobin Zhu
author_sort Ruijie Bai
collection DOAJ
description The co-evolutionary relationship between gut microbiota and their hosts is influenced by microbial genetic variation, which enables adaptation to host environmental changes, modifies metabolic processes, and refines host–microbiota interactions. Investigating how gut microbial genetic variations influence host neurobehavior can provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. In this study, we screened a comprehensive single-gene knockout library of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and identified 370 mutant strains that reduced social behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Notably, five mutations in the L-tyrosine biosynthesis pathway significantly alter the social aggregation behavior of C. elegans via the TGF-β signaling pathway. These findings highlight the importance of considering both microbial genetic variation and community composition in the examination of gut microbe-host neurobehavioral interactions. The establishment of this relationship provides a reference and experimental basis for the development of genetically engineered probiotics aimed at regulating host behavior.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1949-0976
1949-0984
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Gut Microbes
spelling doaj-art-c8f69d5ba72f45b7a67a484b509293a82025-08-20T03:51:43ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2536091Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behaviorRuijie Bai0Tao Wang1Rongrong Gu2Yawei Cai3Juntao Chen4Wen Cai5Dianshuang Zhou6Ying Li7Jixun Luo8Xiangming Wang9Zuobin Zhu10Jiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaMedical Technology College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaJiangsu Engineering Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Polygenic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaThe co-evolutionary relationship between gut microbiota and their hosts is influenced by microbial genetic variation, which enables adaptation to host environmental changes, modifies metabolic processes, and refines host–microbiota interactions. Investigating how gut microbial genetic variations influence host neurobehavior can provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. In this study, we screened a comprehensive single-gene knockout library of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and identified 370 mutant strains that reduced social behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Notably, five mutations in the L-tyrosine biosynthesis pathway significantly alter the social aggregation behavior of C. elegans via the TGF-β signaling pathway. These findings highlight the importance of considering both microbial genetic variation and community composition in the examination of gut microbe-host neurobehavioral interactions. The establishment of this relationship provides a reference and experimental basis for the development of genetically engineered probiotics aimed at regulating host behavior.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2536091Caenorhabditis elegansgut microbiotasocial behaviorgenetic variationtyrosine metabolism
spellingShingle Ruijie Bai
Tao Wang
Rongrong Gu
Yawei Cai
Juntao Chen
Wen Cai
Dianshuang Zhou
Ying Li
Jixun Luo
Xiangming Wang
Zuobin Zhu
Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
Gut Microbes
Caenorhabditis elegans
gut microbiota
social behavior
genetic variation
tyrosine metabolism
title Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
title_full Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
title_fullStr Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
title_full_unstemmed Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
title_short Microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
title_sort microbial genetic composition regulates host social behavior
topic Caenorhabditis elegans
gut microbiota
social behavior
genetic variation
tyrosine metabolism
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2536091
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AT dianshuangzhou microbialgeneticcompositionregulateshostsocialbehavior
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