Integrating Genetics, Immune Dysregulation, and the Gut Microbiome: Advances in Elucidating IBD Pathophysiology and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis. It is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It currently affects approximately 10 million people globally, and its incidence is increasing exponentially. The pathogenesis of IBD is incompletely understood, and well-defined diagnostic biomarkers and effective treatments are limited. Thus, further research is needed to ameliorate the IBD burden. Immune dysregulation, genetic susceptibility, and environmental triggers are suspected to be involved in the development of IBD, and multifactorial approaches that include both individual factors (exogenous and endogenous) and their interactions are likely necessary to further elucidate its pathophysiology. In this Special Issue, original research and review articles are welcome to be submitted as we explore biomarkers that might aid in the diagnosis, prediction of outcomes and responses, and treatment of IBD. In addition, works further exploring the roles of the microbiome, gut–brain axis, and environmental, immune, and genetic factors in IBD etiology will be presented. Given the multifactorial nature of IBD, articles that explore connections between different components of IBD pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment are particularly relevant to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Peter W. Jurutka
Prof. Dr. Todd R. Sandrin
Guest Editors

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