There is a strong connection between the brain and the intestinal microbiota.

In the intestine live bacteria that play key roles for humans, such as protection against pathogens, help digestion, control the nervous system and even affect our mood.

A microorganism that has been shown to be beneficial to humans is Lactobacillus rhamnosus, since it has probiotic effects that contribute to the well-being of people.

It is known that stress in an organism can generate inflammation, which leads to the development of a depressive or anxious disorder. This is because the stress in the body causes inflammation, which produces a molecule that instructs the brain to make the person feel depressed or anxious.

We aim to generate a microorganism that is capable of blocking the signaling produced by stress and inflammation in the body.

To achieve this, we will first use E. coli as a model organism due to its simplicity and ease of manipulation.

Our final product will be a psychobiotic, a microorganism capable of sensing stress and respond by producing a therapeutic molecule to minimize the adverse effects of inflammation, and the symptoms of depressive disorders.