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Molecular Advances on Gut Microbiota in Human Health

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut microbiota has emerged as a key determinant of human health, influencing a wide range of physiological and pathological processes through complex molecular interactions. Once regarded as a passive bystander, the intestinal microbiome is now recognized as an active, dynamic organ that regulates metabolism, immune homeostasis, and even neurobehavioral functions. Disruptions in the microbial ecosystem—often referred to as gut dysbiosis—have been associated with diverse conditions, including metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

Recent advances in multi-omics technologies—metagenomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics—have expanded our understanding of the molecular dialogue between the host and its microbiota. These approaches reveal not only taxonomic shifts but also functional alterations in microbial pathways, such as short-chain fatty acid production, bile acid metabolism, and redox homeostasis. Integration of molecular microbiology with systems biology now enables us to map these host–microbe interactions with unprecedented precision, opening novel avenues for personalized diagnostics and therapeutics.

This Special Issue, “Molecular Advances on Gut Microbiota in Human Health,” aims to highlight the latest insights into the mechanisms through which the gut microbiota contributes to human physiology and pathology. We welcome original research and comprehensive reviews addressing (but not limited to) the following areas:

  • Molecular mechanisms linking gut microbiota and systemic metabolism;
  • Microbiota-mediated regulation of inflammation and immune function;
  • Gut–brain and gut–endocrine communication pathways;
  • Microbial biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring;
  • Effects of diet, nutraceuticals, prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics on microbial composition and function;
  • Multi-omics integration in microbiome research and clinical applications;
  • Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota in chronic diseases.

By bringing together molecular, clinical, and translational perspectives, this collection seeks to bridge the gap between microbiome science and personalized medicine. We hope that the contributions in this Special Issue will stimulate new directions in microbiome-centered research and foster the development of microbiota-based interventions to improve human health and longevity.

We invite you to contribute your latest findings and perspectives to this Special Issue and join us in exploring the molecular frontiers of the gut microbiota.

Dr. Sanda Cretoiu
Guest Editor

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
  • dysbiosis
  • metabolomics
  • host–microbe interaction
  • molecular pathways
  • inflammation
  • personalized medicine

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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