Balancing the Microbiome: Insights into Intestinal Health and Disease

The gut plays a critical role in maintaining overall health by acting as a barrier to pathogens and facilitating nutrient absorption and immune function. The intestinal microbiome is an intricately complex network of metabolic and functionally inter-dependent microorganisms. Data from both mouse models and human studies show that the intestinal microbiome functions as a key modulator of nutrition and development. In addition, it plays an important role in host immunology and the pathogenesis of both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases through actions on inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and other bioactive signalling molecules. Imbalances in the gut microbiota, known as intestinal dysbiosis, along with altered intestinal permeability, are associated with a range of disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic disorders, neurological conditions, cancer progression and haematological disorders.

Goal
This collection aims to bring together new developments and concepts in the field of gut microbiology with a focus on the impact dysbiosis can have on systemic inflammatory conditions and a particular interest in the efficacy of restoring the eubiosis to manage the chronic health condition.

Aims and Scope
We invite original research articles and Reviews/Mini reviews that explore the complicated relationship between intestinal health and disease, as understanding this interplay is essential for developing targeted therapies for promoting gut well-being and improving disease outcomes. We particularly invite articles on the following:

- Mechanistic studies on gut microbiota-driven pathogenesis;
- The role of intestinal permeability in health and disease;
- Interplay between the microbiota and host immune responses;
- Microbiota-targeted interventions: probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, dietary approaches and fecal microbiota transplantation;
- Advances in diagnostic biomarkers for dysbiosis and intestinal health;
- Impact of gut microbiota on systemic diseases, including metabolic, neurological, inflammatory diseases, oncological and hematological disorders;
- Microbiota-modulating strategies in clinical or preclinical studies;
- Diet, lifestyle and age: dietary, exercise and microbiota across the lifespan.

Article types and fees

This Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Issue description:

• Brief Communication
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Issue description:

• Brief Communication
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Review

Keywords: Gut microbiota, Intestinal health, Dysbiosis, Microbiota-targeted therapies