Novel Insights into Stress and Nutritional Regulation in Animals

Dear Colleagues,

The dynamic interplay between stress physiology and nutrition is a cornerstone of animal health and productivity. Environmental, psychological, and metabolic stressors profoundly disrupt homeostasis, altering nutrient partitioning, immune competence, and overall resilience. Conversely, nutritional strategies can modulate neuroendocrine pathways, mitigate stress-induced damage, and enhance adaptive capacity. While this bidirectional relationship is widely acknowledged, novel methodologies—from multi-omics and advanced imaging to precision feeding systems and behavioral informatics—are revolutionizing our understanding of these complex interactions.

This Special Issue, "Novel Insights into Stress and Nutritional Regulation in Animals", aims to curate cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of this field. We seek contributions that uncover mechanistic insights into how stressors (e.g., thermal, oxidative, pathogenic, or husbandry-related) influence nutrient metabolism, gut integrity, and metabolic signaling. Equally, we welcome studies exploring innovative nutritional interventions—including functional feed additives, precision nutrient formulations, and early-life programming—designed to prevent, alleviate, or build resilience against various stress burdens.

We invite original research and review articles across species (livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and companion animals) that employ integrative approaches. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, molecular crosstalk between stress axes and nutrient-sensing pathways, the role of the gut–X axis, microbiome-mediated effects, sustainable nutritional solutions for stress mitigation, and biomarkers for assessing stress-nutrition status.

By synthesizing contemporary discoveries, this collection will provide a valuable resource for advancing animal science and developing practical, evidence-based strategies to improve sustainable production in a changing world.

Dr. Hao-Yang Sun
Dr. Qi-Ye Wang
Dr. Zhan-Wei Teng
Dr. Xiao Liu
Guest Editors

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