The microbiota promotes social behavior by modulating microglial remodeling of forebrain neurons

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001838
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01T17:23:01Z
• Authors: Joseph J. Bruckner; Sarah J. Stednitz; Max Z. Grice; Dana Zaidan; Michelle S. Massa...; Johannes Larsch; Alexandra Tallafuss; Karen Guillemin; Philip Washbourne; Judith S. Eisen
• Keywords: Forebrain; Biological neural network

Host-associated microbiotas guide the trajectory of developmental programs, and altered microbiota composition is linked to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder. Recent work suggests that modulate behavioral phenotypes associated with these disorders. We discovered zebrafish required for normal social behavior reveal a molecular pathway linking microbiota, microglial remodeling neural circuits, in this experimentally tractable model vertebrate. Examining neuronal correlates behavior, we found restrains neurite complexity targeting forebrain neurons necessary localization microglia, brain-resident phagocytes remodel arbors. The also influences functions, including promoting expression complement signaling synaptic factor c1q . Several distinct bacterial taxa are individually sufficient phenotypes, suggesting host neuroimmune development sensitive feature common among many bacteria. Our results demonstrate by stimulating circuits during early neurodevelopment suggest pathways new interventions multiple