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Bacteria invade the brain following intracortical microelectrode implantation, inducing gut-brain axis disruption and contributing to reduced microelectrode performance

Author

Listed:
  • George F. Hoeferlin

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Sarah E. Grabinski

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Lindsey N. Druschel

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Jonathan L. Duncan

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Grace Burkhart

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Gwendolyn R. Weagraff

    (Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    University of Florida)

  • Alice H. Lee

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Christopher Hong

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Meera Bambroo

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Hannah Olivares

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Tejas Bajwa

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Jennifer Coleman

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Longshun Li

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • William Memberg

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Jennifer Sweet

    (Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    University Hospitals Case Medical Center)

  • Hoda Amani Hamedani

    (Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    Case Western Reserve University)

  • Abhinav P. Acharya

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Ana G. Hernandez-Reynoso

    (Case Western Reserve University
    The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Curtis Donskey

    (Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine)

  • George Jaskiw

    (Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
    Case Western Reserve University)

  • E. Ricky Chan

    (Case Western Reserve University)

  • Andrew J. Shoffstall

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • A. Bolu Ajiboye

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Horst A. Recum

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

  • Liangliang Zhang

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Case Western Reserve University)

  • Jeffrey R. Capadona

    (Case Western Reserve University
    Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center)

Abstract

Brain-machine interface performance can be affected by neuroinflammatory responses due to blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage following intracortical microelectrode implantation. Recent findings suggest that certain gut bacterial constituents might enter the brain through damaged BBB. Therefore, we hypothesized that damage to the BBB caused by microelectrode implantation could facilitate microbiome entry into the brain. In our study, we found bacterial sequences, including gut-related ones, in the brains of mice with implanted microelectrodes. These sequences changed over time. Mice treated with antibiotics showed a reduced presence of these bacteria and had a different inflammatory response, which temporarily improved microelectrode recording performance. However, long-term antibiotic use worsened performance and disrupted neurodegenerative pathways. Many bacterial sequences found were not present in the gut or in unimplanted brains. Together, the current study established a paradigm-shifting mechanism that may contribute to chronic intracortical microelectrode recording performance and affect overall brain health following intracortical microelectrode implantation.

Suggested Citation

  • George F. Hoeferlin & Sarah E. Grabinski & Lindsey N. Druschel & Jonathan L. Duncan & Grace Burkhart & Gwendolyn R. Weagraff & Alice H. Lee & Christopher Hong & Meera Bambroo & Hannah Olivares & Tejas, 2025. "Bacteria invade the brain following intracortical microelectrode implantation, inducing gut-brain axis disruption and contributing to reduced microelectrode performance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-27, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56979-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56979-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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