Selected Publications
Global mental health benefits from expanding microbiome–gut–brain axis research to the global south
Valderrama, B., Morais, L.H., Lavelle, A. et al. Global mental health benefits from expanding microbiome–gut–brain axis research to the global south. Nat. Mental Health 4, 1207–1215 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-026-00690-w
The gut microbiome promotes mitochondrial respiration in the brain of a Parkinson’s disease mouse model
The gut microbiome in animal models of Parkinson’s disease
α-synuclein overexpression and the microbiome shape the gut and brain metabolome in mice
A prebiotic diet modulates microglial states and motor deficits in α-synuclein overexpressing mice​
Abdel-Haq, R. et al. A prebiotic diet modulates microglial states and motor deficits in α-synuclein overexpressing mice. eLife 11:e81453 (2022). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.81453
Convergent pathways of the gut microbiota–brain axis and neurodegenerative disorders​
Gubert, C., Gasparotto, J., Morais, L.H. Convergent pathways of the gut microbiota–brain axis and neurodegenerative disorders. Gastroenterology Report, V. 10, 2022, goac017. https://doi.org/10.1093/gastro/goac017
Altered stress responses in adults born by Caesarean section​
Dinan, T.G. et al. Altered stress responses in adults born by Caesarean section. Neurobiol. Stress 16, 100425 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100425
Early-life oxytocin attenuates the social deficits induced by caesarean-section delivery in the mouse​
Morais, L.H. et al. Early-life oxytocin attenuates the social deficits induced by caesarean-section delivery in the mouse. Neuropsychopharmacol. 46, 1958–1968 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01040-3
The gut microbiota–brain axis in behaviour and brain disorders​
Morais, L.H., Schreiber, H.L., Mazmanian, S.K. The gut microbiota–brain axis in behaviour and brain disorders. Nat Rev Microbiol 19, 241–255 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-020-00460-0
Enduring Behavioral Effects Induced by Birth by Caesarean Section in the Mouse​
Morais, L.H. et al. Enduring Behavioral Effects Induced by Birth by Caesarean Section in the Mouse. Current Biology (2020). Elsevier BV. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.044.
Early signs of colonic inflammation, intestinal dysfunction, and olfactory impairments in the rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease​
Morais, L.H., et al. Early signs of colonic inflammation, intestinal dysfunction, and olfactory impairments in the rotenone-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Behavioural Pharmacology (2018). DOI: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000389
Strain differences in the susceptibility to the gut–brain axis and neurobehavioural alterations induced by maternal immune activation in mice​
Morais, L.H., et al. Strain differences in the susceptibility to the gut–brain axis and neurobehavioural alterations induced by maternal immune activation in mice. Behavioural Pharmacology (2018). DOI: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000374