Viruses residing in human gut may play role in regulating stress, study suggests

The gut-brain connection is gaining support as new evidence shows that gut viruses, specifically bacteriophages, play a role in response to stress.

The new research, published in Nature Microbiology, suggests that manipulating these viruses could lead to new treatments for stress-related conditions.

The study found that stress exposure led to changes in the composition of viruses and bacteria in the gut of mice. It also found that transplanting viruses from unstressed animals reduced stress hormones and anxiety-like behavior in the stressed mice.

The research opens the possibility of personalized medicine for stress-related disorders in the future.