ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Intestinal Diseases and Gut Microbiota

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 419

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: flavonoid; natural compounds; biological activity; anticancer activity; antioxidant activity; chalcone; multidrug-resistant pathogens; food science; antimicrobial agents; cytotoxicity assays; amyloid; Crohn’s disease; AIEC; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intestinal microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract, particularly the colon. It has metabolic, immunological and protective functions. Thus, maintaining the microbiota in the right quality-quantity ratio is important for health status. The phenomenon of dysbiosis, or an imbalance of this ratio, can be caused by various factors, i.e., antibiotic therapy, improper diet, stress, infections and chronic diseases. It contributes to increased intestinal permeability, chronic inflammation, weakened immunity and colonization with pathogens. This can in turn lead to the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, but also colorectal cancer (CRC).

This SI will consider both Original Articles on in vitro and in vivo studies, but also Reviews. Manuscripts on the relationship of the microbiota to autoimmune diseases, colorectal cancers, but also neurological diseases will be accepted. Those involving new therapies (e.g., fecal microbiota transplantation—FMT) and those based on prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics will also be of interest. Any research on naturally derived compounds that are protective in nature against the composition, equilibrium and function of the gut microbiota will be a valuable addition to this SI. In addition, studies examining the effects of the microbiota on the gut-brain axis and thus on neurodegenerative diseases, mood, depression, anxiety, autism will also be welcome. We will include Manuscript, which will examine the modulating effect of the gut microbiota on immune mechanisms. In addition, molecular mechanisms of interaction of microbes belonging to the microbiota with host cells will be an interesting addition to this SI. Attractive, moreover, will be articles addressing the effects of metabolic mechanisms and their products on various types of modifications in the host, including effects on nervous system function. All researchers from around the world are welcome to send in their work.

Dr. Anna Duda-Madej
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
  • natural compounds
  • colorectal cancer
  • neurological diseases
  • autoimmune diseases
  • probiotics
  • gut-brain axis

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

26 pages, 5166 KB  
Article
Impact of Isoquinoline Alkaloids on the Intestinal Barrier in a Colonic Model of Campylobacter jejuni Infection
by Anna Duda-Madej, Przemysław Gagat, Jerzy Wiśniewski, Szymon Viscardi and Paweł Krzyżek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110634 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 111
Abstract
Phytotherapy is a growing field of modern medicine, offering natural alternatives with multidirectional pharmacological effects. Among plant-derived bioactive compounds, isoquinoline alkaloids exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Our in vitro model of campylobacteriosis confirmed that berberine reduces pathological changes in colonocytes not only [...] Read more.
Phytotherapy is a growing field of modern medicine, offering natural alternatives with multidirectional pharmacological effects. Among plant-derived bioactive compounds, isoquinoline alkaloids exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Our in vitro model of campylobacteriosis confirmed that berberine reduces pathological changes in colonocytes not only through its direct antibacterial (minimum inhibitory concentration for pure berberine against Campylobacter jejuni was 64 μg/mL) and anti-biofilm (fourfold reduction in C. jejuni biomass) effects, but also through its protective effect on the morphostructure and secretory profile of host cells exposed to bacterial components. Furthermore, berberine stabilized intercellular junction proteins, modulated bile acid and arachidonic acid metabolism, and supported host-protective signaling pathways. These findings indicate that berberine acts through a dual mechanism—directly reducing bacterial virulence while enhancing intestinal barrier integrity and metabolic homeostasis. In summary, berberine appears to be a multifunctional phytochemical in the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of C. jejuni-induced gastrointestinal infections and epithelial barrier dysfunctions. The protective effect we have demonstrated may contribute to alleviating the phenomenon of “leaky gut,” commonly associated with campylobacteriosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intestinal Diseases and Gut Microbiota)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 1232 KB  
Review
Gut Microbiome in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 4 and 5: A Systematic Literature Review
by Ioana Livia Suliman, Florin Gabriel Panculescu, Dragos Fasie, Bogdan Cimpineanu, Andreea Alexandru, Nelisa Gafar, Stere Popescu, Teodor Stefan Nitu, Florin-Daniel Enache, Tatiana Chisnoiu, Georgeta Camelia Cozaru and Liliana-Ana Tuta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110706 - 3 Nov 2025
Viewed by 143
Abstract
This systematic review investigates the role of the gut microbiota in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically stages 4 and 5. Increasing evidence suggests that dysbiosis—an alteration in the normal balance of gut microbial populations—is not merely a secondary consequence of [...] Read more.
This systematic review investigates the role of the gut microbiota in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically stages 4 and 5. Increasing evidence suggests that dysbiosis—an alteration in the normal balance of gut microbial populations—is not merely a secondary consequence of renal decline but a significant driver of disease progression. Such microbial imbalances are closely linked to a range of CKD-associated complications, including systemic inflammation, accumulation of uremic toxins, and heightened cardiovascular risk. Using PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we analyzed 87 peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025. The review revealed a consistent decline in beneficial microbes such as short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria were markedly reduced, while populations of uremic toxin-generating microbes were notably increased. This microbial imbalance was associated with elevated concentrations of indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, heightened systemic inflammation, and impaired intestinal barrier integrity. Five conceptual frameworks—including the gut—kidney axis and endotoxemia—inflammation loop—were discussed. Ten microbiome assessment tools were reviewed, including 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS/MS for uremic toxin detection. Although probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are gaining attention as potential therapeutic options, questions remain regarding their long-term efficacy and incorporation into standard clinical practice. Increasing scientific evidence underscores the gut microbiome’s pivotal role in CKD progression and management, reinforcing the need for carefully designed, long-term interventions aimed at restoring a healthier microbial balance to support renal function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intestinal Diseases and Gut Microbiota)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop