Comparative Genomics of the Human Gut Microbiome

Dear Colleagues,

The gastrointestinal tract harbours a complex ecological community, playing an important role in human nutrition and health. The gut microbiota is a dynamically evolving ecosystem composed of a wide variety of microbes (e.g., bacteria, archaea, eukarya and viruses), taking part in the host physiology and metabolism. In particular, fermentation of dietary components that escape gut digestion, stimulation of the host immune systems, defence against infections combined with the conversion of bioactive compounds and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites represent key microbial functions of the gut ecosystem. Perturbation of this delicate balance may have serious implications for host health and functionality. It is now understood that several factors such as host genetics, diet and use of medications play a role in influencing the composition of the gut communities. However, more recent advances in the study of gut viromes have also brought attention to the aspect of phage–host coevolution and predatory dynamics as another important modulator of the gut bacterial composition. In the study of the human gut microbiome, culture-independent sequencing approaches, including metagenomics and comparative genomics, continue to provide important insights into the existing dynamics influencing the diversity of the gut populations.   

This Special Issue aims to gather the latest advances in the application of comparative and functional genomics and metagenomics methods in the study of the human gut ecosystem. We would like to invite researchers to submit their research or review articles showing the application of such methods in the study of bacterial and virome communities, in unravelling bacterial–host interactions, new therapies and new molecular pathways.

Dr. Francesca Bottacini
Dr. Colin Buttimer
Dr. Jennifer Mahony
Prof. Dr. Douwe van Sinderen
Guest Editors

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