Highlights Bifidobacterium stercoris KC84 alleviates IBS-D-like symptoms in mouse and rat models KC84 modulates serotonin-related pathways associated with diarrhea KC84 induces IFN-β production from colonic dendritic cells IFN-β is associated with reduced intestinal smooth muscle contractility Abstract Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) is a prevalent disorder that significantly impairs quality of life, yet therapeutic advances remain limited. Serotonin dysregulat

Highlights Maternal helminths promote offspring antiviral immunity via the microbiota Helminth-altered microbiota produce IPA, which drives antiviral protection IPA induces lung epithelial type I interferon responses to promote antiviral immunity Helminth-endemic human microbiota are enriched in the tryptophan metabolism pathway Summary Maternal environmental exposures can alter microbiome composition and lead to changes in offspring immunity. Industrialization has led to sig

Abstract The circadian clock enables organisms to predict daily environmental changes and synchronise their physiology and behaviour accordingly. Macrophages, key sensor cells in the innate immune system, exhibit cell-autonomous circadian rhythmicity. This circadian rhythmic behaviour is synchronised to the central clock in the hypothalamus as a result of neural, and hormonal signals. Macrophage rhythms and responses involve sensing temporal cues, integrating information from

Highlights Streptomyces are enriched in roots during drought via suppressed immunity and Fe uptake Drought-induced suppression of iron uptake is conserved across ∼160 mya of plant evolution Some Streptomyces improve plant performance under drought and low iron Plant benefits are independent of enrichment and instead driven by intra-genus antagonism Summary Drought reshapes the plant root microbiota, yet the mechanistic drivers and consequences of this observation remain uncle