Trillions of microbes cover the surfaces of our bodies and inhabit our gastrointestinal tract. In the past decade, research efforts examining the role of the microbiome in mental health have moved to the forefront of neuroscience and psychiatry. Based on a foundation of animal studies demonstrating the vital role for microbiota-brain communication in brain development, behavior, and brain function over the life span, clinical studies have started to consider the microbiome in psychiatric disorders. The composition, diversity and function of commensal microbes is influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. This review provides an overview of the factors contributing to individual differences in the microbiome, reviews recent work in psychiatric disorders, and considers what is needed to advance a better understanding of how the microbiome impacts mental health which may help us understand the heterogeneity observed in clinical psychiatric populations.

中文翻译：

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微生物与心理健康：微生物组能否帮助解释精神病学的临床异质性？

数以万亿计的微生物覆盖我们身体的表面并栖息在我们的胃肠道中。在过去的十年中，研究微生物组在心理健康中的作用的研究工作已转移到神经科学和精神病学的前沿。基于动物研究的基础，证明微生物群-大脑交流在整个生命周期中的大脑发育、行为和大脑功能中起着至关重要的作用，临床研究已经开始考虑精神疾病中的微生物群。共生微生物的组成、多样性和功能受遗传、生活方式和环境因素的影响。这篇综述概述了导致微生物组个体差异的因素，回顾了最近在精神疾病方面的工作，