16S rRNA Sequencing Data from Mice Subjected to Chronic Stress-Induced Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

This study aimed to elucidate the causal role of gut microbiota in mediating stress-related behavioral and neuroplastic alterations associated with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). By utilizing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from mice exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) into unstressed recipients, we investigated whether stress-induced dysbiosis alone could reproduce core behavioral deficits and molecular changes in the prefrontal cortex linked to depression and anxiety. The relevance of this study lies in advancing the understanding of the gut-brain axis as a bidirectional pathway through which environmental stressors may influence mental health via microbial alterations. Our findings provide experimental evidence supporting the microbiota as a potential mediator of stress effects on the central nervous system, highlighting new avenues for microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies in stress-related disorders.