Аннотация:This mini-review article is focused on the biotechnological and biomedical implications of the novel area of research called microbial endocrinology and, in particular, its recently developed subfield microbial neurochemistry. Of direct biotechnological relevance are the following facts: (a) microorganisms produce neuroactive substances that are of biomedical and psychiatric importance; traditional selection techniques and genetic engineering can be used to obtain microbial super producers of these chemicals and (b) in microbial systems, many neurochemicals produce specific effects such as growth stimulation and regulation of the planktonic cells- biofilm transition, and, therefore, can potentially be used to promote microbial synthesis of valuable biotechnological products.