Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gut-Brain Axis01:22

Gut-Brain Axis

222
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such...
222
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

61
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
61

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Plasma exosomal HERV-K transcripts are increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BMC neuroscience·2026
Same author

The Motor Neuron Disease Register for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Protocol for a Population Register.

JMIR research protocols·2026
Same author

Classical HLA class II associations with ALS in Kuwait reveal a DR7-DQ2.2 risk haplotype.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

CYP2D6 variants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an association study of risk and survival.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Large-scale exome analyses reveal new rare variant contributions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Nature genetics·2026
Same author

Digenic inheritance of mutations in SPG7 and AFG3L2 causes motor neuron and cerebellar disorders.

BMC medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

29.4K

Gut microbiota and ALS: cause, consequence or correlation? - a systematic review.

Debarghya Kumar Chakraborty1, Triparna Roy2, Shyuan Thieu Ngo3,4,5

  • 1King's College Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|April 29, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Gut microbiome changes are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but causality is unclear. While animal studies show potential, human data suggest gut dysbiosis may be a consequence, not a cause, of ALS progression.

Keywords:
amyotrophic lateral sclerosisdysbiosisenteric nervous systemgut microbiomegut–brain axisintestinal barrier dysfunctionmotor neuron diseaseneuroinflammation

More Related Videos

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
09:36

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: June 23, 2022

3.5K
Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
08:59

Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: July 16, 2021

2.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

29.4K
Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
09:36

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: June 23, 2022

3.5K
Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
08:59

Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: July 16, 2021

2.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with proposed links to gut microbiome disturbances.
  • Mechanisms involving dysbiosis, barrier dysfunction, metabolic imbalance, and immune activation are suggested but not proven.
  • Causality between gut microbiome alterations and ALS pathogenesis remains unresolved.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review evidence on the involvement of the gut microbiome in ALS pathogenesis.
  • To evaluate the association between gut microbiota and ALS in human and animal studies.
  • To synthesize findings regarding potential mechanistic links and therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar).
  • Inclusion of human and animal studies assessing microbiota, barrier integrity, metabolites, or immune pathways related to ALS.
  • Narrative synthesis of findings due to study heterogeneity, with quality assessment using QUADAS-2.

Main Results:

  • 61 studies revealed consistent associations between ALS and reduced microbial diversity, altered key taxa, and disrupted metabolic/inflammatory pathways.
  • Animal studies demonstrated that microbiota manipulation impacts motor function, permeability, and survival.
  • Human data often showed dysbiosis correlating with disease progression, suggesting secondary effects, while multi-omics linked microbial changes to systemic and CNS immune phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence supports an interaction model where gut dysbiosis, barrier failure, metabolic disruption, and immune dysregulation are involved in ALS.
  • Dysbiosis is not established as a primary cause, with human data primarily indicating association.
  • Longitudinal studies and interventional trials are needed to clarify temporal relationships and explore microbiome-targeted therapies for ALS.