Worm Neurons Decode Bacterial Signals, Revealing a Gut-Brain Communication Code

MIT researchers identify the exact bacterial signals that activate the enteric neuron NSM in C. elegans: specific polysaccharides, including peptidoglycan from gram-positive bacteria, trigger neural activity via acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) to regulate feeding, while the pathogenic pigment prodigiosin can suppress this signaling. The findings map a mechanistic, likely evolutionarily conserved gut-brain communication pathway with potential implications for targeted therapies in humans.