Harvard Researchers Identify Gut Bacteria's Role in Depression Through Inflammation
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have discovered a biological mechanism linking the gut bacterium Morganella morganii to major depressive disorder. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that an environmental contaminant, diethanolamine (DEA), can alter a molecule produced by M. morganii, triggering an immune response that releases inflammatory proteins like interleukin-6 (IL-6). This inflammation is associated with depression, providing a potential explanation for the bacterium's impact on mental health. The findings suggest that DEA could serve as a biomarker for diagnosing certain depression cases and highlight the role of the immune system in depression. 
