Fig. 5

Dysbiosis aggravates the pathology of Parkinson’s disease in the intestine. a Bacterial depletion attenuated the impairment of lifespan of intestinal Syn flies. Germ-free (GF) flies were generated with fly diet with antibiotics cocktail (carbenicillin, metronidazole, and tetracyclin). Adult flies were cultured as described in Fig. 1a, and lifespan curves were recorded. b Bacterial depletion alleviated the age-dependent DA neuron loss induced by intestinal α-syn. c Antibiotics improved the progressive locomotor deficits induced by intestinal α-syn. d Antibiotics inhibited the intestinal α-syn-induced dysplasia of midgut. Green, GFP; blue, DNA; Scale bars, 2 μm. e Bacterial depletion decreased the number of phospho-H3-positive cells in midgut. f Bacterial depletion attenuated the interruption of intercellular junction. Red, anti-Dlg; blue, DNA; Scale bars, 0.5 μm. Mean ± SEM; P-values for survival curves were calculated using log-rank tests (using total fly numbers), and for category graphs using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple-comparison test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. CR: conventionally reared; PH3: phospho-H3