Integrating Multi-Omics Microbiome Research into the One Health Approach: Probiotics, Functional Foods, and Farm-to-Fork Concept
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 4814
Special Issue Editors
Interests: environmental studies; environmental microbiology; environmental monitoring; history of biological sciences; gut microbiota; One Health
Interests: gut microbiota; obesity; xenobiotics; bisphenol A; endocrine disruptors; metabolic disorders; brain-gut axis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that many chronic diseases are linked to dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota. These disturbances encompass a wide range of conditions, ranging from metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, obesity), through autoimmune diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), to mental health issues (e.g., depression, autism). The noticeable rise in the prevalence of these conditions is attributed, at least in part, to poor dietary habits and the consumption of low-quality food, while the role of the gut microbiota is receiving growing scientific attention.
The concept of enhancing gut function through proper nutrition and the use of beneficial microbes dates back to the late 19th century. However, only now do we have the scientific tools and understanding to purposefully apply probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic products, which not only support the digestive system but also contribute to managing the aforementioned disorders. This expanding knowledge also empowers us to make more informed dietary choices, particularly through incorporating functional foods, i.e., foods enriched with health-promoting components such as probiotic microbial strains, vitamins, polyphenols, high-quality dietary fiber, and other bioactive compounds. Underlying these ideas is the farm-to-fork concept, which promotes sustainable and health-oriented food systems, spanning the entire chain from agricultural production to final consumption.
All of these elements are interconnected within the One Health framework, developed two decades ago and defined as “an integrated and unifying approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.” This concept highlights the deep interdependence between human health, the well-being of cultivated plants and livestock, and the broader environmental context.
This Special Issue explores the role of multi-omics approaches in advancing the One Health framework, focusing on probiotics, functional foods, and the farm-to-fork concept. By integrating genomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and other omics technologies, it will highlight innovative strategies for improving human, animal, and environmental health through nutrition, sustainable food systems, and microbiome modulation.
Dr. Anna Kostka
Dr. Ana López Moreno
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- One Health
- farm-to-fork
- probiotics
- prebiotics
- synbiotic
- functional food
- gut microbiota
- gut microbiome
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