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Advances in Gut Microbiota Research: From Composition and Function to...
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Advances in Gut Microbiota Research: From Composition and Function to Health and Disease

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 5986

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaoyuan Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease; the impact of dietary and environmental factors on the gut microbiota; developing strategies to manipulate the gut microbiota for therapeutic purposes; the bidirectional interactions between the host and gut microbiota
Dr. Feilong Deng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
Interests: anumal; nutrition; microbiota
Dr. Jianmin Chai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
2. Division of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: animal nutrition; animal microbiome; respiratory microbiota; gut microbiota; rumen; next-generation sequencing; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaofan Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: microbiome; animals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that resides within the gastrointestinal tract and plays an essential role in various physiological processes, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function. A disruption in the balance of the gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, has been linked to multiple diseases. The gut microbiota's composition and function can be impacted by various elements such as diet, genetics, and environmental factors.

Next-generation sequencing technology has revolutionized our understanding of gut microbiota by allowing us to explore the composition and function of the gut microbiota in unprecedented detail. This technology has enabled us to identify previously unknown microbial taxa, track changes in the gut microbiota over time, and investigate the functional capacity of the gut microbiota.

We welcome original research articles and reviews in this Special Issue. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • The role of the gut microbiota in the development and function of the immune system in human or animals;
  • The impact of diet, environment, and lifestyle on the composition and function of the gut microbiota in human or animals;
  • The potential of gut-microbiota-based therapies for improving well-being and the treatment of various diseases;
  • The influence of host genetics on the gut microbiota.

Dr. Xiaoyuan Wei
Dr. Feilong Deng
Dr. Jianmin Chai
Dr. Xiaofan Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • gut microbiota
  • diet
  • genetics
  • environment
  • lifestyle
  • next-generation sequencing
  • animal
  • human

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2739 KiB  
Article
Parasitism-Induced Changes in Microbial Eukaryotes of Peruvian Alpaca Gastrointestinal Tract
by Diana Sanchez, Celso Zapata, Yolanda Romero, Nils H. Flores-Huarco, Oscar Oros, Wigoberto Alvarado, Carlos Quilcate, Hada M. Guevara-Alvarado, Richard Estrada and Pedro Coila
Life 2024, 14(2), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14020187 - 27 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Alpacas, important genetic resources in the Andean region of Peru, are vulnerable to diarrhea caused by pathogenic parasites such as Eimeria lamae and Giardia sp., which can be fatal, especially in neonates, due to their physiological immaturity and limited adaptability. The study investigated [...] Read more.
Alpacas, important genetic resources in the Andean region of Peru, are vulnerable to diarrhea caused by pathogenic parasites such as Eimeria lamae and Giardia sp., which can be fatal, especially in neonates, due to their physiological immaturity and limited adaptability. The study investigated the diversity and abundance of intestinal fungi and protists in alpacas infected with Eimeria lamae and Giardia sp. compared to healthy alpacas. A total of 19 alpacas, aged between one and two months, were included. They were divided into two groups, one with pathological conditions (nine) and the other healthy (ten). Parasitological analyses for the detection of parasites and subsequent molecular analysis were performed on the collected fecal samples. The results revealed a greater diversity and abundance of protists in infected alpacas in comparison with healthy alpacas, while the fungal composition did not show significant changes. Therefore, parasitic infections affect the protist component of the alpaca gut microbiota. Also, it was observed that Blastocystis was identified in all healthy alpacas, serving as a possible marker of the health of the intestinal microbiota; in addition, Prussia and Pichia are beneficial fungi that help control diseases. This groundbreaking study in neonatal alpacas is the first to explore potential changes in the intestinal microbiota during an infectious state, underscoring the importance of further research to comprehend its effects on alpaca health and immune responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gut Microbiota Research: From Composition and Function to Health and Disease)
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10 pages, 5435 KiB  
Article
Gut Microbiota Is Not Essential for Survival and Development in Blattella germanica, but Affects Uric Acid Storage
by Rebeca Domínguez-Santos, Joaquín Baixeras, Andrés Moya, Amparo Latorre, Rosario Gil and Carlos García-Ferris
Life 2024, 14(1), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14010153 - 21 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1720
Abstract
Cockroaches harbor two coexisting symbiotic systems: the obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenotii, and a complex gut microbiota. Blattabacterium is the only bacterium present in the eggs, as the gut microbiota is acquired by horizontal transmission after hatching, mostly through coprophagy. Blattella germanica, [...] Read more.
Cockroaches harbor two coexisting symbiotic systems: the obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenotii, and a complex gut microbiota. Blattabacterium is the only bacterium present in the eggs, as the gut microbiota is acquired by horizontal transmission after hatching, mostly through coprophagy. Blattella germanica, a cosmopolitan omnivorous cockroach living in intimate association with humans, is an appropriate model system for studying whether the gut microbiota is essential for the cockroach’s survival, development, or welfare. We obtained a germ-free cockroach population (i.e., containing normal amounts of the endosymbiont, but free of microbes on the insects’ surface and digestive tract). Non-significant differences with the controls were detected in most fitness parameters analyzed, except for a slight shortening in the hatching time of the second generation and a reduction in female weight at 10 days after adult ecdysis. The latter is accompanied by a decrease in uric acid reserves. This starvation-like phenotype of germ-free B. germanica suggests that the microbiota is not essential in this species for survival and development throughout its complete life cycle, but it could participate in complementation of host nutrition by helping with food digestion and nutrient absorption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gut Microbiota Research: From Composition and Function to Health and Disease)
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17 pages, 4937 KiB  
Article
A Preliminary Study Exploring the Relationship between Occupational Health Hazards and Gut Microbiota among Firefighters
by Ji Youn Yoo, Daniel McSkimming, Kalavathy Rajan, Anujit Sarkar, Nicole Labbé, Maureen Groer and Usha Menon
Life 2023, 13(9), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13091928 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1560
Abstract
Firefighters are exposed to occupational hazards and have a higher prevalence of health issues. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the immune, endocrine, and neural systems, and disruptions in its composition can impact health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to investigate [...] Read more.
Firefighters are exposed to occupational hazards and have a higher prevalence of health issues. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the immune, endocrine, and neural systems, and disruptions in its composition can impact health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to investigate the potential association between occupational factors, changes in gut microbiota, and the development of adverse health outcomes in firefighters. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 15 firefighters and age/sex-matched controls to investigate the relationship between occupational environment and gut microbiota. Firefighters exhibit lower intestinal bacterial alpha diversity and a higher presence of pathogenic bacteria than the control. Moreover, unique gut bacterial taxa were observed in firefighters with high post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores, which could contribute to immune dysregulation and higher susceptibility to pathogen colonization. These preliminary findings suggest that occupational factors, including exposure to traumatic stressors and chemicals, may influence firefighters’ health by modulating their gut microbiota. The observed changes in gut microbiota composition and the potential link to occupational hazards highlight the need for further research in larger sample-size studies. Understanding the role of gut microbiota in firefighter health may have implications for preventive measures and interventions to mitigate occupational health risks and improve overall well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gut Microbiota Research: From Composition and Function to Health and Disease)
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