Abstract

Histopathologically, amyloids are known as β-sheet rich extracellular protein deposits that are generally associated with neuro-degenerative diseases of mammals including α-synuclein observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Microorganisms have been reported for the production of similar proteins with functional physiological traits also termed as “functional amyloids” helping them in the invasion, biofilm formation, host-colonization, and even in immune activation. The gut-associated micro-flora is known to aggravate neuro-degeneration and disease progression. In the present work, the authors have analyzed the possibility of interaction between α-synuclein with functional amyloids using in silico tools (phylogeny, docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and visual MD visualization) and reviewed the reported (in vitro and in vivo) interactions. The interaction of functional amyloids and anti-Parkinsonian drugs with wild type α-synuclein (non-misfolded) was shown to be interacting with specific amino acids with the possibility of use of micro-biota even as psycho-biotics. Microbial exudates have been implicated with various disorders influencing human mental health with both negative and positive effects. The present review, analyzing the influence of gut-micro-flora crossing the gut-brain-axis, and enhancing the psycho-pathological health of the human brain can help future research in alleviating human mental health using the gut-brain axis.

Key words: α-synuclein, Bacterial functional amyloids, in silico, mental health, psychobiotics, neurodegenration