Publisher Correction: Increased persistence of avoidance behaviour and social deficits with L.rhamnosus JB-1 or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment following social defeat

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Low-dose penicillin in early life induces long-term changes in murine gut microbiota, brain cytokines and behavior

There is increasing concern about potential long-term effects of antibiotics on children's health. Epidemiological studies have revealed that early-life antibiotic exposure can increase the risk of developing immune and metabolic diseases, and rodent studies have shown that administration of high doses of antibiotics has long-term effects on brain neurochemistry and behaviour. Here we investigate whether low-dose penicillin in late pregnancy and early postnatal life induces long-term effects in the offspring of mice. We find that penicillin has lasting effects in both sexes on gut microbiota, increases cytokine expression in frontal cortex, modifies blood-brain barrier integrity and alters behaviour. The antibiotic-treated mice exhibit impaired anxiety-like and social behaviours, and display aggression. Concurrent supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 prevents some of these alterations. These results warrant further studies on the potential role of early-life antibiotic use in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, and the possible attenuation of these by beneficial bacteria

Interkingdom crosstalk: Host neuroendocrine stress hormones drive the hemolytic behavior of Salmonella typhi

The ability of bacterial pathogens to sense their immediate environment plays a significant role on their capacity to survive and cause disease. Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi) is an exclusively human pathogen that causes typhoid fever. In a recent study, we have shown that S. typhi senses and responds to host neuroendocrine stress hormones to release the toxin hemolysin E. Hormone-mediated hemolysis by S. typhi was inhibited by the β-blocker propranolol and was dependent on the presence of the CpxAR signal transduction system. Furthermore, we demonstrate that normal expression of the small RNA micA is necessary for the arbitration of the response to host neuroendocrine hormones. This leads to a significant decrease in the levels of the outer membrane protein OmpA and increased formation of membrane vesicles containing HlyE. The exploration of host pathogen interactions is of paramount importance in deciphering pathogen virulence and the discovery of novel treatments