Host–Microbiome–Environment Interactions in Domestic and Wild Animals

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 398

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Interests: small ruminants; reproductive physiology; puberty; lactation; periconceptional nutrition; gestational nutrition

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Guest Editor
Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango 35230, Mexico
Interests: reproductive biology; ovary; nutrition; metabolism; animal physiology; assisted reproductive technology; cattle; feeding; reproductive medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, microbiome research has profoundly transformed our understanding of animal biology, revealing the intricate and dynamic interactions between hosts and their associated microbial communities. This Special Issue invites high-quality contributions that explore the diversity, function, and ecological significance of microbiomes associated with both domestic and wild animals, as well as their surrounding environments (soil, water, housing systems, and natural habitats). By adopting a holistic approach, we aim to foster an integrated view of animal–microbiota–environment systems. We encourage submissions that address microbial communities inhabiting diverse anatomical niches (including gut, blood, skin, milk, reproductive tracts, and more), and their implications for animal health, immunity, nutrition, reproduction, and productive traits. Equally, we highlight the importance of investigating environmental microbiomes in the habitats and rearing systems of animals, recognizing their critical role in shaping host-associated microbiota and mediating host–pathogen–symbiont interactions. Studies focused on wild animal microbiomes are especially welcome, particularly those that explore microbiota as bioindicators of ecosystem health, or that inform species conservation, translocation, and wildlife management. Understanding the microbiome in wild species can enhance our capacity to detect subclinical stress, identify emerging threats, and guide habitat restoration efforts in the face of global environmental change.

This Special Issue aims to bridge existing gaps in the literature by providing a comprehensive and integrative perspective on microbiomes across domestic and wild animals, as well as their environments. While numerous studies have explored host-associated microbiota—particularly in humans and production animals—the current literature is often compartmentalized, focusing narrowly on a single host species, anatomical niche, or production trait.

This Issue thus aims to expand this scope by bringing together cross-species, cross-ecosystem, and cross-disciplinary perspectives. It has the following aims:

  • Integrating animal and environmental microbiomes, thereby advancing the understanding of how habitat-level microbial communities influence host health, disease ecology, and productivity.
  • Promoting the inclusion of wildlife microbiomes, a domain that remains underrepresented despite its relevance for conservation biology, ecological monitoring, and evolutionary microbiology.
  • Emphasizing functional and mechanistic links between microbiota and key biological processes such as immunity, reproduction, and host resilience—topics often overlooked in taxonomic surveys.
  • Encouraging methodological convergence (e.g., multi-omics, longitudinal sampling, and systems biology approaches), which complements more traditional 16S rRNA-based surveys and enhances the resolution and applicability of microbiome data.

By framing microbiome research within a One Health and eco-biological context, this Special Issue not only aligns with current global priorities in health and environmental sciences but also fosters the development of interdisciplinary collaborations that are essential for tackling complex biological questions. This Issue will serve as a critical supplement to the existing literature, providing a synthesizing platform for novel insights and applied outcomes that connect microbiome to animal health, sustainable production, and biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Cesar A. Rosales-Nieto
Dr. Cesar A. Meza-Herrera
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. Biology 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 2700 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

  • animal microbiome
  • environmental microbiota
  • host–microbiota interactions
  • wildlife microbiology
  • livestock health and productivity
  • microbiome and conservation
  • One Health approach
  • gut microbiota dynamics
  • microbial ecology
  • microbiome and reproduction
  • habitat–host microbiome linkages
  • multi-omics integration

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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