Nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage promotes depressive behaviour in mice via sex hormone degradation.

ABSTRACT: The human microbiome has a pronounced impact on human physiology and behaviour. Despite its unique anatomical connection to the brain, the role of the nasal microbiome in neurological diseases is understudied. Here, using human data and experiments in mice, we show that nasal Staphylococcus aureus is linked to depression. Nasal microbiome analyses revealed a positive correlation between depression scores and S. aureus abundance among patients with depression and healthy controls. Metabolomics of the nasal cavity showed decreased sex hormones, estradiol and testosterone in patients with depression versus controls. Nasal microbiota transplants from patients reproduced depression-like behaviour in mice with differential abundance of S. aureus. Further homology and mutational analysis uncovere

SUBMITTER: Xiang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12488488 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature