Links between the gut microbiota, metabolism, and host behavior.

The gut microbiota is known to regulate multiple aspects of host physiology, including metabolism and behavior. Locomotion, which is closely intertwined with metabolism, is an important component of complex behaviors, such as foraging, mating, and evading predators. Our recent work revealed that certain bacterial species and their products modulate motor behavior in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster via metabolic and neuronal pathways. In the context of our previously published findings and recent work by others, I will discuss potential avenues for future research at the intersection of the microbiota, metabolism, and host behavior.