Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.7
4.1
Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
The Central Role of Microbiota in Eye Health
Due to scheduled maintenance work on our database systems, there may be short service disruptions on this website between 10:00 and 11:00 CEST on June 14th.
share announcement

The Central Role of Microbiota in Eye Health

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4416

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesco Petrillo

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: retinal disease; retinal vascular disease; choroidal vascular disease; ocular surface disease; endophthalmitis; fungal endophthalmitis; Aspergillus; antifungal therapy; eye infections; drug resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elisa Zanotto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Azienda Ospedaliera, Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
Interests: ophthalmology; keratitis infectious

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the upcoming publication of a Special Issue of Microorganisms dedicated to the fascinating and rapidly evolving field of microbiota and its impact on eye health.

In this Special Issue, we aim to explore the complex relationships between the microbiota, an ecosystem of microorganisms that populate our bodies, and eye health.

We will examine the latest findings on the role of the gut, skin, and other body microbiota in ocular development, physiology, and pathology, and we will discuss the potential implications of these findings for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of eye diseases.

Moreover, the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has revolutionized the field of microbiome research, providing unprecedented insights into the vast and complex microbial communities that inhabit our bodies and influence our health.

Of particular interest will be the following topics: interactions between the microbiome and the immune system at both the ocular and systemic levels; the role of the microbiome in the development and progression of eye diseases; the impact of the gut and other body microbiomes on eye health; potential therapeutic applications of the microbiome for the treatment of eye diseases; and future challenges and opportunities in microbiome and eye health research.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francesco Petrillo
Dr. Elisa Zanotto
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 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. Microorganisms 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

  • eye health
  • microbiota
  • next-generation sequencing
  • immune system

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 (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 455 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Conjunctival Microflora and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery
by Aldo Vagge, Filippo Lixi, Diego Ponzin, Chiara Del Noce, Davide Camposampiero, Marcello Santocono, Carlo Enrico Traverso, Vincenzo Scorcia and Giuseppe Giannaccare
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020227 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 955
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the conjunctival flora of patients scheduled for cataract surgery and determine the susceptibility profile of isolated bacteria to several commonly used topical antibiotics. Conjunctival swabs were taken from 44 consecutive patients (25 males, 19 females; mean age of [...] Read more.
This study aims to characterize the conjunctival flora of patients scheduled for cataract surgery and determine the susceptibility profile of isolated bacteria to several commonly used topical antibiotics. Conjunctival swabs were taken from 44 consecutive patients (25 males, 19 females; mean age of 75.0 ± 12.6 years) who were scheduled for senile cataract surgery at two Italian centers before starting any prophylactic preoperative treatment. Swabs were processed for the detection of the microbial growth and for species identification. Selective culture media were used, and bacteria were identified using the MicroScan Specialty ID Panels (Beckman Coulter®, Brea, CA, USA). Antimicrobial susceptibility for the following antibiotics (netilmicin, tobramycin, ofloxacin, oxacillin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, chloramphenicol, cefuroxime, and azithromycin) were assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Susceptibility for oxacillin was useful to identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). Among the swabs analyzed, 61.4% showed only saprophytic flora, 30.7% showed only potential pathogenic flora, and 8.0% showed mixed flora. S. epidermidis (20.5%), S. intermedius (18.2%), and S. aureus (14.8%) were the most frequent isolates; MRSA and MRSE accounted for 8.0% and 6.8% of isolates. Less frequently (9%), Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescent, Serratia marcescens, Moraxella lacunata, Morganella morgani, and Stenotrophomonas maltophila were detected. All isolated organisms showed an excellent sensitivity to moxifloxacin and chloramphenicol (range 83–100%, range 67–100%, Gram-positive sensitivity for moxifloxacin and chloramphenicol, respectively; 100% Gram-negative sensitivity for both). A significant percentage of the eyes of candidates for surgery presented potential pathogenic flora alone or in association with saprophytic organisms. Staphylococci were the most frequently isolated bacteria. Tobramycin and Ofloxacin, widely used in the ophthalmic field, are confirmed to have a reduced sensitivity in vitro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Central Role of Microbiota in Eye Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1009 KiB  
Communication
Efficacy and Safety of Keratosept Eye Drops in Patients with Punctate Keratitis: Clinical and Microbiological Evaluation on 50 Eyes
by Mario Troisi, Ciro Costagliola, Michele Rinaldi, Diego Strianese, Elisabetta Chiariello Vecchio and Salvatore Troisi
Microorganisms 2024, 12(11), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112277 - 9 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1743
Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy and safety of eye drops with antiseptic and re-epithelizing properties (Keratosept®, Bruschettini, Genova, Italy) on 50 eyes affected by punctate keratitis of suspected microbial origin. A biomicroscopic examination, fluorescein dye staining test (Fluotest), tear break-up time test [...] Read more.
We evaluated the efficacy and safety of eye drops with antiseptic and re-epithelizing properties (Keratosept®, Bruschettini, Genova, Italy) on 50 eyes affected by punctate keratitis of suspected microbial origin. A biomicroscopic examination, fluorescein dye staining test (Fluotest), tear break-up time test (TBUT), and the ocular surface disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire were used to assess treatment efficacy. Treatment success was defined as a negative Fluotest and an OSDI score <12 on the 15th day of treatment. According to this definition, Keratosept®, either alone or in combination with antibiotics, was effective in over 80% of microbial and nonmicrobial forms. Conjunctival swabs were taken from all patients for culture examination with an antibiogram and sensitivity test for Keratosept®; 32/43 (74.4%) forms with positive culture for the bacteria were sensitive to Keratosept®. A total of 35/38 (92%) eyes treated with this product alone achieved full treatment success without any apparent adverse effects. These results suggest the use of Keratosept® eye drops in punctate keratitis as an alternative or in combination with established antibiotic therapies. Further studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy in different infectious forms and identify other indications for using this product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Central Role of Microbiota in Eye Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

27 pages, 2971 KiB  
Review
From Dysbiosis to Disease: The Microbiome’s Influence on Uveitis Pathogenesis
by Priya D. Samalia, Jahnvee Solanki, Joseph Kam, Lize Angelo and Rachael L. Niederer
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020271 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1182
Abstract
The microbiome, comprising the diverse microbial communities inhabiting the human body, has emerged as a critical factor in regulating immune function and inflammation. The relationship between the microbiome and uveitis represents a promising frontier in ophthalmological research, with the microbiome increasingly implicated in [...] Read more.
The microbiome, comprising the diverse microbial communities inhabiting the human body, has emerged as a critical factor in regulating immune function and inflammation. The relationship between the microbiome and uveitis represents a promising frontier in ophthalmological research, with the microbiome increasingly implicated in disease onset and progression. Research has predominantly focused on the gut microbiome, with animal studies providing evidence that dysbiosis is a key factor in autoimmunity. As the understanding of the microbiome increases, so does the potential for developing innovative treatments that leverage the microbiome’s impact on immune and inflammatory processes. Future research will be crucial for deciphering the complexities of the interaction between the microbiome and immune system and for creating effective microbiome-based therapies for those with uveitis. Incorporating microbiome research into clinical practice could transform how uveitis is managed, leading to better and more individualized approaches for management. This review discusses the current understanding of the microbiome–uveitis axis, the promise of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics, and the critical need for large-scale, longitudinal studies. Unlocking the potential of microbiome-targeted approaches may revolutionize the management of uveitis and other inflammatory diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Central Role of Microbiota in Eye Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop