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
Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases
share announcement

Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4022

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jilei Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Interests: microbiology; bacterial infectious diseases; zoonosis; intestinal microbiome; inflammatory bowel diseases; vector-borne disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In humans and animals, the microbiome is often used to describe the microorganisms that live in or on a particular part of the body, such as the skin, lungs, or gastrointestinal tract. Due to their significant number and importance, the gut microbiome is characterized as an “organ.” This microbial community is essential to the normal form and function of the host in a range of physiologic processes, including energy homeostasis, metabolism, gastrointestinal epithelial health, immunologic activity, and neurobehavioral development and functions. Thus, the frontier findings of the role of gut microbiota in the host’s health and disease development have become crucial for future disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

In this Special Issue, we aim to assemble a collection of research articles, reviews, and case reports that highlight the critical advancements in our understanding of the role of gastrointestinal microbiome in their host’s health and diseases. Your research has the potential to significantly impact the field of microbiology, and we are eager to include your valuable contributions. For this purpose, we cordially invite you to submit articles related to the various aspects of correlations between the gastrointestinal microbiome and diseases.

Dr. Jilei Zhang
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.

Keywords

  • gut microbes
  • microbiome
  • host health
  • diseases
  • gastroenterology

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 (4 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: Other

16 pages, 2408 KiB  
Article
Bacteriome Signature in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients Correlates with Increased Gut Permeability and Systemic Inflammatory Cytokines
by Larissa S. Souza, Alexandre S. Ferreira-Junior, Pedro C. Estella, Ricardo K. Noda, Lhorena F. Sousa, Miguel T. Y. Murata, Lucas A. L. Carvalho, João L. Brisotti, Daniel G. Pinheiro, Josias Rodrigues, Carlos M. C. B. Fortaleza and Gislane L. V. de Oliveira
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061407 - 16 Jun 2025
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and systemic immune responses, particularly through the gut–lung axis. Disruptions in gut microbial diversity and function—commonly referred to as dysbiosis—have been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and systemic immune responses, particularly through the gut–lung axis. Disruptions in gut microbial diversity and function—commonly referred to as dysbiosis—have been increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we assessed the gut bacteriome and permeability in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients using 16S sequencing and ELISA assays, respectively. We also measured blood inflammatory cytokines and fecal secretory IgA to evaluate systemic and mucosal immune responses. Significant alterations in both alpha and beta diversity metrics were observed in patients with COVID-19 (n = 79) and those with post-COVID-19 condition (n = 141) compared to the controls (n = 97). Differential abundance and taxonomic analyses revealed distinct microbial profiles in the infected groups. Increased plasma levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and zonulin were detected in patient samples. Some genera were elevated during acute infection, which was positively correlated with C-reactive protein, while Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia-Shigella were associated with increased zonulin levels, indicating compromised intestinal barrier function. These findings suggest that gut dysbiosis may contribute to bacterial translocation and systemic inflammation. Overall, our results highlight the importance of the gut–lung axis and suggest that modulating the gut microbiota could support immune regulation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2412 KiB  
Article
Gastric Microbiota Associated with Gastric Precancerous Lesions in Helicobacter pylori-Negative Patients
by Han-Na Kim, Min-Jeong Kim, Jonathan P. Jacobs and Hyo-Joon Yang
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010081 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Studies on the gastric microbiota associated with gastric precancerous lesions remain limited. This study aimed to profile the gastric mucosal microbiota in patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative precancerous lesions. Gastric mucosal samples were obtained from 67 H. pylori-negative patients, including those with [...] Read more.
Studies on the gastric microbiota associated with gastric precancerous lesions remain limited. This study aimed to profile the gastric mucosal microbiota in patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative precancerous lesions. Gastric mucosal samples were obtained from 67 H. pylori-negative patients, including those with chronic gastritis (CG), intestinal metaplasia (IM), and dysplasia. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and analyzed. No significant difference was observed in the alpha or beta diversity of the gastric microbiota among the groups. However, a taxonomic analysis revealed a significant enrichment of Lautropia mirabilis and the depletion of Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Solobacxterium moorei, Haemophilus haemolyticus, and Duncaniella dubosii in the IM and dysplasia groups compared to those in the CG group. Prevotella jejuni and the genus Parvimonas were enriched in the IM group. A predictive functional analysis revealed enrichment of the ornithine degradation pathway in the IM and dysplasia groups, suggesting its role in persistent gastric mucosal inflammation associated with gastric precancerous lesions. The gastric microbiota associated with H. pylori-negative gastric precancerous lesions showed an increased abundance of oral microbes linked to gastric cancer and a reduction in anti-inflammatory bacteria. These alterations might contribute to chronic gastric mucosal inflammation, promoting carcinogenesis in the absence of H. pylori infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4157 KiB  
Article
Network Analysis of Pathogenesis Markers in Murine Chagas Disease Under Antimicrobial Treatment
by Nayra Dias, Marina Dias, Andressa Ribeiro, Nélio Gomes, Aline Moraes, Moisés Wesley, Carlito Gonzaga, Doralina do Amaral Rabello Ramos, Shélida Braz, Bruno Dallago, Juliana Lott de Carvalho, Luciana Hagström, Nadjar Nitz and Mariana Hecht
Microorganisms 2024, 12(11), 2332; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112332 - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1116
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), a disease affecting millions globally, remains shrouded in scientific uncertainty, particularly regarding the role of the intestinal microbiota in disease progression. This study investigates the effects of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion on parasite burden, immune responses, and clinical outcomes in BALB/c [...] Read more.
Chagas disease (CD), a disease affecting millions globally, remains shrouded in scientific uncertainty, particularly regarding the role of the intestinal microbiota in disease progression. This study investigates the effects of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion on parasite burden, immune responses, and clinical outcomes in BALB/c mice infected with either the Trypanosoma cruzi Colombiana or CL Brener strains. Mice were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail before infection, and parasite burden was quantified via qPCR at 30 and 100 days post-infection (dpi). Immune responses were analyzed using flow cytometry and ELISA, while histopathology was conducted on cardiac and intestinal tissues. Antibiotic treatment uncovered strain-specific correlations, with Colombiana infections affecting Bifidobacterium populations and CL Brener infections linked to Lactobacillus. Microbiota depletion initially reduced parasite burden in the heart and intestine, but an increase was observed in the chronic phase, except in the CL Brener-infected gut, where an early burden spike was followed by a decline. Antibiotic-induced bacterial shifts, such as reductions in Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, promoted a more pro-inflammatory immune profile. These findings highlight the importance of microbiota and strain-specific factors in CD and suggest further research into microbiota manipulation as a potential therapeutic strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 2424 KiB  
Brief Report
Gut Microbial Signatures Associated with Cryptosporidiosis: A Case Series
by Antonia Piazzesi, Stefania Pane, Lorenza Romani, Francesca Toto, Matteo Scanu, Riccardo Marsiglia, Federica Del Chierico, Nicola Cotugno, Paolo Palma and Lorenza Putignani
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020342 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 921
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. are zoonotic protozoan parasites with a global prevalence, with both gastrointestinal and pulmonary involvement. Though symptoms can often be relatively mild, they can become severe and even fatal in children under five, the elderly, and in immunocompromised individuals, making cryptosporidiosis a [...] Read more.
Cryptosporidium spp. are zoonotic protozoan parasites with a global prevalence, with both gastrointestinal and pulmonary involvement. Though symptoms can often be relatively mild, they can become severe and even fatal in children under five, the elderly, and in immunocompromised individuals, making cryptosporidiosis a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in fragile populations. Furthermore, there is an urgent clinical need for alternative therapies against cryptosporidiosis, as currently available FDA-approved treatments are ineffective in the immunocompromised. Recent evidence in animal models suggests that the gut microbiota (GM) can influence both host and parasite biology to influence the course of Cryptosporidium infection. Here, we present GM profiles in five cases of cryptosporidiosis, associated with varying underlying pathologies. We found that moderate–severe cryptosporidiosis was characterized by a reduction in alpha-diversity and an enrichment of Enterococcus spp., while decreases in Bifidobacterium, Gemmiger, and Blautia were detectable in the milder manifestations of the disease. Our results suggest that severe cryptosporidiosis is associated with a stronger change on the GM than is age or underlying pathology. Together with previously published studies in animal models, we believe that these results suggest that the GM could be a potential therapeutic target for human patients as well, particularly in the immunocompromised for whom anti-Cryptosporidium treatment remains largely ineffective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Correlations Between the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop