The research program in the Tobet and Schwerdtfeger laboratories is rooted in understanding neural cell – cell communications in the brain and periphery. The Tobet portion of the lab is focused on the brain and the Schwerdtfeger portion on the gastrointestinal tract. Fundamentally, the lab seeks to understand peripheral factors that may drive neurologic and psychiatric diseases throughout the lifespan. Specific areas of active investigation include pre-natal influences on major depressive disorder, enteric neural cell populations as drivers of multiple sclerosis, and gut neural-epithelial signaling in Parkinson’s disease.
research project
Impact of pre-natal stressors such as an immune challenge on depression
A long history of work in the laboratory has demonstrated critical periods in pre-natal development that influence adult psychiatric outcomes. We are currently using a maternal immune activation model that exposes mice to a Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist in utero that causes shifts in depressive-like behaviors, immune responsiveness, and alterations in neuroanatomical development.
research project
The gut as a driver of multiple sclerosis
Emerging data is showing that the enteric nervous system is altered in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The lab is now investigating a specific cell type, enteric glia, as potential drivers of MS disease initiation and progression.
research project
Neural-epithelial signaling in Parkinson’s disease
Neurons in the gut wall accumulate the misfolded protein alpha-synuclein, potentially leading to Parkinson’s disease. This accumulation may be impacted by gut produced neuropeptides, an underexplored area that we are actively investigating.
Publications
Featured Publications
PRENATAL IMMUNE ORIGINS OF THE BRAIN DIFFER BY SEX
Goldstein JM, Konishi K, Aroner S, Lee H, Remington A, Chitnis T, Buka SL, Hornig M, Tobet SA.
Mol Psychiatry. 2025;30:1887-1896.
GUT MICROBIOTA AND METABOLITES ARE LINKED TO DISEASE PROGRESSION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Schwerdtfeger LA, Montini F, Lanser TB, Ekwudo MN, Zurawski J, Tauhid S, Glanz BI, Chu R, Bakshi R, Chitnis T, Cox LM, Weiner HL.
Cell Reports Medicine. 2025;6(4):102055.
GUT NEUROPEPTIDE INVOLVEMENT IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Templeton HN, Tobet SA, Schwerdtfeger LA.
American Journal of Physiology Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2025;328(6):G716-G733.
FECAL MUCOPROTEIN MUC2 IS DECREASED IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH MUCIN DEGRADING BACTERIA
Schwerdtfeger LA, Montini F, Chitnis T, Cox LM, Weiner HL. eBiomedicine. 2025;116:105721.
MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION BY TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 7 AGONIST DURING MID-GESTATION INCREASES SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER LEAKAGE AFTER PUBERTY
Sheng JA, Christenson JR, Schwerdtfeger LA, Tobet SA.
Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative. 2024;8:100081.
contact information
Tobet and Schwerdtfeger Laboratories
Anatomy/Zoology Building, Room W221
(970) 491-5079
