Integrating the Gut Microbiome and Stress-Diathesis to Explore Post-Trauma Recovery: An Updated Model

Manasi Murthy Mittinty; Joshua Y Lee; David M Walton; Emad M El-Omar; James M Elliott

doi:10.3390/pathogens11070716

Integrating the Gut Microbiome and Stress-Diathesis to Explore Post-Trauma Recovery: An Updated Model

Pathogens. 2022 Jun 23;11(7):716. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11070716.

Authors

Manasi Murthy Mittinty¹, Joshua Y Lee², David M Walton², Emad M El-Omar³, James M Elliott^{4

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Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia.
² School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
³ UNSW Microbiome Research Centre, St George and Sutherland Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia.
⁵ The Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁶ Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal conditions of traumatic and non-traumatic origin represent an ongoing health challenge. While the last three decades have seen significant advancement in our understanding of musculoskeletal conditions, the mechanisms of a delayed or lack of recovery are still a mystery. Here, we present an expansion of the integrated stress-diathesis model through the inclusion of the gut microbiome. Connecting the microbiome with known adverse neurobiologic, microbiologic and pathophysiologic sequelae following an injury, trauma or stressful event may help improve our knowledge of the pathogenesis of poor recovery. Such knowledge could provide a foundation for the exploration and development of more effective interventions to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain.

Keywords: gut flora; gut microbiome; musculoskeletal conditions; stress; traumatic injury.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.