Life | Special Issue : The Health Impact of Changes in the Microbiota beyond Diet

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The Health Impact of Changes in the Microbiota beyond Diet

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 July 2023) | Viewed by 3001

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Isabel Alvarez-Mercado

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

1. Center of Biomedical Research, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n., Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain
2. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, 18014 Granada, Spain
3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: microbiota; cancer; metabolic disorders; gut microbiota; diet; liver
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut microbiota is a complex population of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, archaea and fungi, which subsists within the gastrointestinal ecosystem. The gut microbiota is involved in a dynamic interplay with the host from birth to the senescence settled during childhood. Its function is to maintain a dynamic balance with the host, playing both local and remote roles in important physiological processes, particularly inflammation, and the immune response. Alterations in this complex system have been related to the risk of disease. Although, once established, the composition of the gut microbiota is relatively stable throughout adult life, it can be altered. Diet is considered as one of the main modulators of gut microbiota. Nevertheless, the composition of gut microbiota is mediated by a variety of factors, such as host characteristics, environmental pollutants, geographical location, bacterial infections, antibiotic treatment, lifestyle, surgical procedures and age.

This Special Issue aims to collate the studies that present how the microbiota is affected by factors other than nutrition, and to determine the influence of these factors on the predisposition or development of the disease.

We welcome submissions of different types of manuscripts, including original research articles and up-to-date reviews. In particular, we invite submissions of manuscripts regarding research proposals and research ideas.

Dr. Ana Isabel Alvarez-Mercado
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. Life 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 2600 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

gut microbiota
microbiome
environmental pollutants
host physiology
xenobiotic
old age
lifespan
surgery

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pre- and Postnatal Determinants Shaping the Microbiome of the Newborn in the Opinion of Pregnant Women from Silesia (Poland)

by Karolina Krupa-Kotara, Mateusz Grajek, Martina Grot, Martina Czarnota, Agata Wypych-Ślusarska, Klaudia Oleksiuk, Joanna Głogowska-Ligus and Jerzy Słowiński

Life 2023, 13(6), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061383 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 956

Abstract

Pre- and postnatal factors influence the formation of the newborn’s microbiome as early as birth and the intrauterine period has a substantial impact on the composition of the baby’s gastrointestinal microbiota and its subsequent development. This study intends to measure pregnant women’s knowledge of the importance of microbiota for the health of the newborn. The sample was selected based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The assessment of women’s knowledge was assessed by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests. This study population comprised 291 adult pregnant women with a mean age of 28.4 ± 4.7 years. A total of 34% (n = 99), 35% (n = 101), and 31.3% (n = 91) were at the 1–3 trimester, respectively. The results showed that 36.4% of the women were aware that the intrauterine period changes the makeup of the gastrointestinal microbiota, whereas 5.8% exhibited awareness of the composition of the child’s normal gut microbiota. Most of the women surveyed—(72.1%)—know that colonization of the tract occurs as early as the birth period. Women with student status (those who will pursue higher education in the future) and those who had given birth to the most children exhibited higher levels of knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health Impact of Changes in the Microbiota beyond Diet)

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Review

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10 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessReview

Therapeutic Implications of Probiotics in the Gut Microbe-Modulated Neuroinflammation and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

by Toshiyuki Murai and Satoru Matsuda

Life 2023, 13(7), 1466; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071466 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1607

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of specific proteins in the brain. A recent study revealed that manipulating gut microbiota (GM) significantly reduced tau pathology and neurodegeneration in an apolipoprotein E isoform-dependent manner. The resilience of a healthy microbiota protects it from a variety of dysbiosis-related pathologies. Convincing evidence has demonstrated the roles of GM in the pathogenesis of AD, which are partly mediated by modified microglial activity in the brain. Therefore, modulation of GM may be a promising therapeutic option for AD prevention. In addition to providing the cells with energy and affecting microglial maturation, these microbial metabolites appear to influence neuronal function. One of the potential therapeutic approaches targeting GM may involve using probiotics. Additionally, human GM and its metabolites have also become potential therapeutic targets for developing interventions for the prevention of disorders. Synbiotics and postbiotics can also be used to treat AD by modulating GM. In addition, physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness are being considered as potential nonpharmacological therapies to reduce signaling pathways related to neuroinflammation. Therefore, interventions targeting GM might be promising strategies for health promotion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health Impact of Changes in the Microbiota beyond Diet)

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