Fig. 2: Faecal virome transplant attenuates stress-related behaviours.
From: The gut virome is associated with stress-induced changes in behaviour and immune responses in mice
a, Experimental timeline. b, In the SIT test, stress significantly reduced the social interaction ratio in the Ctr Stress group (P < 0.05, q = 0.050, t(27) = 9.395, P < 0.01, P = 0.427, respectively; n = 10 per group). c, The corner ratio was significantly increased by stress (P < 0.05, q = 0.040, t(27) = 6.067, P < 0.05, P = 0.111; n = 10 per group). d, The distance travelled during the habituation phase of the test was significantly reduced by stress and restored in the FVT group (P < 0.001, q = 0.023, t(27) = 17.761, P < 0.01, P < 0.01; n = 10 per group). e, In the EPM test, stress significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms and the FVT restored this effect (P < 0.01, q = 0.038, t(23) = 4.818, P < 0.05, P < 0.05; Ctr n = 10, Ctr Stress n = 7, FVT Stress n = 9). f, Entries into the EPM open arms were reduced in the stress group followed by a trend of restoration by FVT (P < 0.05, q = 0.050, t(23) = 7.254, P < 0.05, P = 0.071; Ctr n = 10, Ctr Stress n = 7, FVT Stress n = 9). g, In the FST, there were no effects recorded. h, Plasma corticosterone collected by TT was measured at −5 min (basal), +15 min, +45 min and +90 min from FST initiation; data are presented as mean ± s.e.m. There was increased corticosterone in the Ctr Stress group compared with the Ctr at the basal and 90 min post-FST timepoints as assessed by orthogonal contrast followed by Tukey’s two-sided pairwise post hoc test (P < 0.05, t(16) = 2.673, P < 0.05, t(16) = 2.386, P < 0.05, respectively; Ctr n = 8, Ctr Stress n = 10, FVT Stress n = 9). i, Area-under-curve (AUC) of corticosterone was increased in the stress group followed by a trend of reduction by FVT (P < 0.05, q = 0.085, t(26) = 26.703, P < 0.05, P = 0.058; Ctr n = 8, Ctr Stress n = 10, FVT Stress n = 9). In b–g and i, the restoration effect was measured using planned orthogonal contrast followed by Tukey’s post hoc test (two-sided pairwise comparisons of Ctr–Ctr Stress and Ctr Stress–FVT Stress) and BH-FDR adjustment. Data are presented in the following order: P = restoration effect measured by orthogonal contrast; q = BH-FDR-adjusted P value; P = Tukey’s post hoc test. Tukey’s pairwise post hoc P values were calculated for Ctr–Ctr Stress and Ctr Stress–FVT Stress. Significant effects are denoted by: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, †q < 0.2. Data presented as boxplots display the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile and maximum.
