Microbial and Nutrition Metabolism in Animals
A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 71
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ruminant nutrition; microbial metabolism; microbe–host interaction; microorganisms and the environment
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Livestock play an essential role in global food systems, and their feed efficiency, health, and productivity are strongly shaped by the metabolic activities of gastrointestinal microorganisms. Despite rapid advances in microbiome research, the mechanistic links between microbial communities, host metabolism, and environmental outputs remain incompletely understood. Elucidating these interactions is critical for improving nutrient utilization, reducing emissions, and promoting sustainable and healthy animal production.
This Special Issue focuses on metabolomics-driven insights into host–microbiome interactions in livestock, with particular emphasis on ruminants, as well as monogastric species such as pigs and poultry. It aims to uncover how microbial community structure, functional genes, and metabolite profiles regulate nutrient digestion, energy metabolism, immune function, and environmental impacts.
The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following: gastrointestinal microbiota and fermentation processes; microbial metabolite profiling; microbial protein synthesis; lipid and amino acid metabolism; methane and other emission-related metabolic pathways; dietary modulation of the microbiome; host–microbe metabolic crosstalk; microbiota-related environmental effects; and multi-omics approaches (especially metabolomics, metagenomics, and integrated omics) in animal nutrition and physiology.
In line with the aims of Metabolites, we particularly encourage studies that elucidate metabolic pathways, identify key metabolites or biomarkers, and apply advanced analytical and systems biology approaches to understand metabolic regulation in livestock systems.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that present innovative findings. This Special Issue seeks to provide theoretical foundations and practical strategies for precision nutrition, improved animal health, and the sustainable development of livestock production systems.
Dr. Zhiming Xu
Dr. Xiaoge Sun
Guest Editors
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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. Metabolites 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 2700 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
- ruminant nutrition
- microbial metabolism
- lipid metabolism
- rumen microbiota
- microbial fermentation
- microbiome
- microbe–host
- microorganisms and the environment
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