Dopamine receptor D2 confers colonization resistance via microbial metabolites. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38480886/)

These scientists wanted to understand how certain microbes in our gut can protect us from harmful bacteria that can make us sick. They focused on a specific bacteria called Citrobacter rodentium, which is similar to a dangerous bacteria that can cause serious illnesses.

The scientists found that when we eat a certain amino acid called L-tryptophan, our gut microbes produce substances that can activate a receptor in our intestines called dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2). This activation helps protect us from the harmful bacteria by changing how our gut cells work and making it harder for the bad bacteria to stick to our intestines.

This discovery is important because it shows a new way our bodies can fight off these harmful bacteria. In the future, this could help scientists develop new ways to keep our guts healthy and treat infections that affect many people around the world.

Scott SA., Fu J., Chang PV. Dopamine receptor D2 confers colonization resistance via microbial metabolites. Nature. 2024 Apr;628(8006):180-185. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07179-5. Epub 2024 Mar 13.