Microbiome, Immune and Intestinal Health in Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 2899

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Interests: animal; livestock; parasite; helminth; drug resistance; climate change; ruminants; therapeutics; vaccines; alternative parasite control
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intricate interplay between gut microbiota, immune responses, and intestinal health is a critical aspect of animal well-being. In this Special Issue titled “Microbiome, Immune, and Intestinal Health in Animals”, we aim to explore these relationships, with a special emphasis on the control of intestinal parasites. The role of the gut microbiota in shaping immune function, maintaining gut integrity, and its potential in parasite control strategies is of growing interest in the field of animal health.

Intestinal parasites, including helminths and protozoa, pose significant challenges to the health of livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. These parasites can cause a range of health issues, from mild gastrointestinal disturbances to severe systemic diseases. The control of these parasites is essential for the health and productivity of animals, especially in agricultural settings.

In this issue, we invite contributions that shed light on various aspects of microbiome, immune, and intestinal health in animals, including but not limited to:

  • The role of gut microbiota in modulating immune responses to intestinal parasites.
  • The impact of intestinal parasites on the composition and function of the gut microbiota.
  • Novel approaches to controlling intestinal parasites through manipulation of the gut microbiota.
  • The interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and parasite control.

The use of probiotics, prebiotics, and other microbiome-targeted interventions in the management of intestinal parasites. 

We welcome submissions in the form of original research articles, reviews, brief communications, and case reports. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline and will undergo peer review upon receipt.

We look forward to your contributions to this important and evolving field of research.

Dr. Robert W. Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbiome
  • immune
  • intestinal health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3891 KiB  
Article
Altered Gut Microbiome Composition in Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism: Key Bacterial Genera Analysis
by Hee-Jun Kang, Sang-Won Kim, Seon-Myung Kim, Tae-Min La, Jae-Eun Hyun, Sang-Won Lee and Jung-Hyun Kim
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2883; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192883 - 7 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is a common endocrine disorder in dogs, which is associated with diverse metabolic abnormalities. We hypothesized that elevated cortisol levels in dogs with HAC disrupt the gut microbiome (GM), and this disruption persists even after trilostane treatment. This study explored GM [...] Read more.
Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is a common endocrine disorder in dogs, which is associated with diverse metabolic abnormalities. We hypothesized that elevated cortisol levels in dogs with HAC disrupt the gut microbiome (GM), and this disruption persists even after trilostane treatment. This study explored GM composition in dogs with HAC. We included 24 dogs, 15 with HAC and 9 healthy controls, and followed up with 5 dogs with HAC who received trilostane treatment. The GM analysis revealed significant compositional changes in dogs with HAC, including reduced microbiome diversity compared to healthy controls, particularly in rare taxa, as indicated by the Shannon index (p = 0.0148). Beta diversity analysis further showed a distinct clustering of microbiomes in dogs with HAC, separating them from healthy dogs (p < 0.003). Specifically, an overrepresentation of Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota), Actinobacteria, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Escherichia, and Proteus populations occurred alongside a decreased Firmicutes (Bacillota) population. Despite trilostane treatment, gut dysbiosis persisted in dogs with HAC at a median of 41 d post treatment, suggesting its potential role in ongoing metabolic issues. We identified GM dysbiosis in dogs with HAC by examining key bacterial genera, offering insights into potential interventions like probiotics or fecal microbiota transplants for better HAC management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiome, Immune and Intestinal Health in Animals)
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14 pages, 3299 KiB  
Article
Integration of Gut Microbiota with Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Growth Differences in Male Giant River Prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)
by Quanxin Gao, Hao Huang, Peimin Liu, Xiuxin Zhao, Qiongying Tang, Zhenglong Xia, Miuying Cai, Rui Wang, Guanghua Huang and Shaokui Yi
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172539 - 31 Aug 2024
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Abstract
The giant freshwater prawn (GFP; Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a tropical species cultured worldwide, has high market demand and economic value. Male GFP growth varies considerably; however, the mechanisms underlying these growth differences remain unclear. In this study, we collected gut and hemolymphatic samples [...] Read more.
The giant freshwater prawn (GFP; Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a tropical species cultured worldwide, has high market demand and economic value. Male GFP growth varies considerably; however, the mechanisms underlying these growth differences remain unclear. In this study, we collected gut and hemolymphatic samples of large (ML), medium (MM), and small (MS) male GFPs and used the 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomic methods to explore gut microbiota and metabolites associated with GFP growth. The dominant bacteria were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria; higher growth rates correlated with a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Serum metabolite levels significantly differed between the ML and MS groups. We also combined transcriptomics with integrative multiomic techniques to further elucidate systematic molecular mechanisms in the GFPs. The results revealed that Faecalibacterium and Roseburia may improve gut health in GFP through butyrate release, affecting physiological homeostasis and leading to metabolic variations related to GFP growth differences. Notably, our results provide novel, fundamental insights into the molecular networks connecting various genes, metabolites, microbes, and phenotypes in GFPs, facilitating the elucidation of differential growth mechanisms in GFPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiome, Immune and Intestinal Health in Animals)
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Review

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19 pages, 698 KiB  
Review
Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Microbiome and Microbe Interactions: A Scoping Review
by Shu-Wei Lin and Matan Shelomi
Animals 2024, 14(22), 3183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223183 - 6 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) is farmed worldwide to convert organic waste into usable biomaterials. Studies on the larval microbiome have been carried out to check for symbiotic or pathogenic microbes and their respective functions and fates. Some studies tested [...] Read more.
Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) is farmed worldwide to convert organic waste into usable biomaterials. Studies on the larval microbiome have been carried out to check for symbiotic or pathogenic microbes and their respective functions and fates. Some studies tested these microbes for industrial applications, while others tested the effects of exogenous microbes as probiotics or for substrate pre-processing to improve larval fitness, bioconversion rates, or nutritional qualities. This review examined all peer-reviewed literature on these topics to consolidate many disparate findings together. It followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. The results found no evidence of globally conserved core microbes, as diet strongly correlated with gut microbiome, but some genera appeared most frequently in BSF larval guts worldwide regardless of diet. The gut microbes undoubtably assist in digestion, including pathogen suppression, and so microbial probiotics show promise for future investigations. However, the common gut microbes have not been explored as probiotics themselves, which would be a promising direction for future work. The impacts of BSF bioconversion on pathogens varied, so each rearing facility should investigate and manage their pathogen risks independently. The data summarized in this study provide useful reference points for future investigations into BSF–microbe interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiome, Immune and Intestinal Health in Animals)
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