Fig. 1. Proxy biomarkers of gut dysbiosis.
Gut dysbiosis (i.e., reduced gut-microbial diversity) has been shown to trigger: a a local inflammatory response (alpha-1-antitrypsin; I-FABP); b loosening of tight-junction proteins (zonulin); c translocation of bacterial endotoxin from the gut lumen to the bloodstream (LPS, ASCA, etc.); d activation of a systemic low-grade inflammation (LBP, sCD14, antibodies against bacterial endotoxin). Experimental models of gut dysbiosis showed a causative link with symptoms of sickness behavior (more details in main text).