C. elegans study identifies chemicals sensed by a key neuron in bacteria
Updated
Updated · MIT News · Apr 30
C. elegans study identifies chemicals sensed by a key neuron in bacteria
5 articles · Updated · MIT News · Apr 30
MIT Picower Institute researchers reported in Current Biology that NSM detects bacterial polysaccharides, including peptidoglycan in gram-positive bacteria, while the red pigment prodigiosin suppresses responses to harmful Serratia marcescens.
Tests on 20 bacterial types found these cues drive feeding and slowing behaviour, and that knocking out acid-sensing ion channels abolished the neuronal and behavioural responses.
The work aims to clarify how microbiomes affect nervous systems beyond association studies, and researchers say analogous molecular players in mammals could inform future therapeutic interventions.
A single bacterial molecule signals 'danger' to a worm. Are similar microbial signals the hidden triggers for chronic diseases like IBS or depression?
A worm’s gut neuron tells its brain what to eat. Does our own gut hold the same power over our mood and cravings?
Direct Sensing of Bacterial Surface Polysaccharides by Gut Neurons Through Acid-Sensing Ion Channels
Overview
In 2026, MIT researchers discovered that bacterial surface polysaccharides from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria activate a specific gut neuron called NSM in the worm C. elegans through acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). This activation triggers calcium influx and serotonin release, which increases feeding and slows locomotion, optimizing nutrient intake. Conversely, the bacterial pigment prodigiosin suppresses NSM activation, reducing feeding to promote avoidance of harmful bacteria. Human ASICs, expressed in gut-innervating neurons, detect gut stimuli and contribute to visceral pain. Disruptions in gut microbiome balance can impair ASIC signaling, leading to inflammation and neuroinflammation that may contribute to neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.