Antibiotics Alter Gut Microbiome to Aid TBI Brain Recovery

Microbiome Remodeling Trust Your Gut to Heal Your Brain

2026-02-27 Source: Houston Methodist 2 min Reading Time

Altering the gut microbiome could help the brain recover after traumatic injury. Researchers at Houston Methodist report in Communications Biology that short-term antibiotic treatment reduced neuroinflammation and tissue damage in experimental models of traumatic brain injury.

Graphical illustration of how this research is envisioned in humans(Source: Houston Methodist) — Graphical illustration of how this research is envisioned in humans
(Source: Houston Methodist)

What if healing the brain after traumatic injury starts in the gut? In a new study published in Nature Communications Biology, Houston Methodist researchers led by Sonia Villapol, Ph.D., found that short-term antibiotic treatment significantly reduced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI) by altering the gut microbiome in animal models.

“We found that antibiotic treatment following TBI can reduce harmful gut bacteria, decrease lesion size and limit cell death,” said Villapol, an associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Houston Methodist. “Our results support a gut–brain mechanism in which microbiome changes influence peripheral immunity and, in turn, neuroinflammation after TBI.”

Administering antibiotics cleans the gut of harmful bacteria, allowing beneficial bacteria to flourish. The study found that two helpful bacteria, Parasutterella excrementihominis and Lactobacillus johnsonii, are key to driving cell repair. According to Villapol, they could also be major regulators for peripheral inflammation in the body.

Notably, 70% of immune system regulation is generated by the gut microbiome. During gut imbalance, the bidirectional nature of the brain-gut axis can wreak havoc throughout the entire body.

A groundbreaking new study reveals that changes to the gut microbiome can change the way the brain works. (Source: Pixabay)

“Our brains are constantly sending signals to the rest of our bodies. Following a traumatic brain event, those signals can get scrambled and disrupt other organs, including our digestive system,” Villapol said. “If the gut stays out of balance, the brain may have a harder time healing.”

There are an estimated 4 million traumatic brain injuries a year in the U.S. Recent studies indicate that TBI-induced gut microbiome imbalance may even contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Villapol’s lab is focused on investigating and developing new neuroprotective treatments to fight inflammation linked with neurodegenerative disease. “If we can break neuroinflammation in the acute or chronic stage, we can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Villapol said.

The next phase of the research will focus on bioengineering Parasutterella excrementihominis and Lactobacillus johnsonii to further develop precision therapies to reduce neuroinflammation.

Original Article: Antibiotic-induced gut microbiome remodeling reduces neuroinflammation in traumatic brain injury; Communications Biology; DOI:10.1038/s42003-026-09737-1

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