Microbiome and Aging

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our 2021 Special Issue "Microorganisms and Aging" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/special_issues/Microorganisms_Aging).

Microorganisms strongly influence organ functions in an age‐ and diet‐dependent manner, adding an important dimension to aging biology that remains poorly understood. Although age‐related differences in the gut microbiota composition are correlated with age‐related loss of organ function and diseases, including inflammation and frailty, variation exists among the elderly, especially centenarians and people living in areas of extreme longevity. Studies using shortlived as well as nonsenescent model organisms provide surprising functional insights into factors affecting aging and implicate an attenuating effect of microbes. Is the microbiome a major component of healthy aging? Despite substantial progress in our understanding of the gut microbiome, still very little is known about age-associated changes in the microbiome and its metabolic outputs, how these changes influence host physiology, and whether aging patterns within the microbiome simply reflect or actually contribute to long-term health and survival outcomes.

The aim of this Special Issue of Microorganisms is to present a collection of articles that take a closer look at the importance of the microbiome in aging. Manuscripts providing an overview of all aspects of microbes and their functions related to the biology of aging are welcome, including basic research in animal models on the causal role of microbes on host aging, aging patterns within the microbiome, and the mechanisms of host–microbe interactions through to a more applied angle, such as modifiable microbial features that may promote healthy aging and longevity.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bosch
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. 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.

• longevity
• microbiome
• disease
• model organisms
• inflammaging
• host–microbe interaction
• holobiont
• probiotic science