We are delighted to share some of the highly cited papers from the Section “Microbiology and Ecological Metabolomics” that were published in Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989) in 2024 and 2025. In addition, some Special Issues related to this topic are currently open for submission.

The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that we believe will be interest of you:

1. “Atractylenolide I Inhibits Nicotine-Induced Macrophage Pyroptosis and Alleviates Atherogenesis by Suppressing the TLR4/ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 Pathway”
by Huan-Huan Li, Xian Liu, Yu-Ping Wang, Xi Xu, Lin Zhu, Wei Zhang and Kun Ren
Metabolites 2025, 15(5), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15050329
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/5/329

2. “Meta-Analysis of Abiotic Conditions Affecting Exopolysaccharide Production in Cyanobacteria”
by Shijie Wu, Fuwen Wang, Hong Wang, Cong Shen and Kaiqiang Yu
Metabolites 2025, 15(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15020131
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/2/131

3. “In Vivo Effectiveness of Pleurotus ostreatus in Degradation of Toxic Metabolites of Filamentous Fungi Such as Aflatoxin B1 and Zearalenone”
by Agnieszka Zapaśnik, Marcin Bryła, Adrian Wojtczak and Barbara Sokołowska
Metabolites 2025, 15(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15010020
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/1/20

4. “Untargeted GC-MS Metabolic Profiling of Anaerobic Gut Fungi Reveals Putative Terpenoids and Strain-Specific Metabolites”
by Lazarina V. Butkovich, Candice L. Swift, Chaevien S. Clendinen, Heather M. Olson, Samuel O. Purvine, Oliver B. Vining and Michelle A. O’Malley
Metabolites 2025, 15(9), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15090578
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/9/578

5. “Exogenous γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Enhanced Response to Abiotic Stress in Hypsizygus marmoreus by Improving Mycelial Growth and Antioxidant Capacity”
by Zhi Cao, Hongyu Chen, Chenli Zhou, Ming Gong, Yan Li, Youran Shao, Yingying Wu and Dapeng Bao
Metabolites 2024, 14(2), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14020094
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/2/94

6. “Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Blood Glucose Levels and Gut Microbiota: Differential Effects under Normal or High-Fat Diet Conditions”
by Manjin Xu, Huixia Niu, Lizhi Wu, Mingluan Xing, Zhe Mo, Zhijian Chen, Xueqing Li and Xiaoming Lou
Metabolites 2024, 14(9), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14090504
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/9/504

7. “HMOs Impact the Gut Microbiome of Children and Adults Starting from Low Predicted Daily Doses”
by Danica Bajic, Frank Wiens, Eva Wintergerst, Stef Deyaert, Aurélien Baudot and Pieter Van den Abbeele
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040239
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/4/239

8. “Genetic Circuits for Feedback Control of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Biosynthesis in Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917”
by Matthew Lebovich, Marcos A. Lora, Jared Gracia-David and Lauren B. Andrews
Metabolites 2024, 14(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14010044
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/1/44

9. “MS2Lipid: A Lipid Subclass Prediction Program Using Machine Learning and Curated Tandem Mass Spectral Data”
by Nami Sakamoto, Takaki Oka, Yuki Matsuzawa, Kozo Nishida, Jayashankar Jayaprakash, Aya Hori, Makoto Arita and Hiroshi Tsugawa
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110602
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/602

Special Issues:

“New Findings on Microbial Metabolism and Its Effects on Human Health”
Guest Editors: Dr. Ulrike E. Rolle-Kampczyk, Dr. Beatrice Engelmann and Dr. Sven-Bastiaan Haange
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026

“Metabolomics Approaches in Chemical Ecology: Decoding Interspecies Interactions Through Metabolic Profiling”
Guest Editors: Dr. Remington X. Poulin and Dr. C. Benjamin Naman
Submission deadline: 31 August 2026

“Dysbiosis and Metabolic Disorders of the Microbiota”
Guest Editor: Dr. Guozhu Ye
Submission deadline: 1 July 2026

“Microbial Metabolites and Host Health”
Guest Editor: Dr. Weilan Wang
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

If you are an active researcher in the field and are passionate about participating in cutting-edge research publications, please do not hesitate to contact the Metabolites Editorial Office (metabolites@mdpi.com).