Recent Advances in Natural Products Chemistry Related to Metabolites and Microbiomes

Dear Colleagues,

The microbiome is generally referred to as the collective microbial genome found in a particular habitat, while the microbiota is the set of microorganisms living in a specific environment. However, some authors use the term “microbiome” also to indicate the microbes that co-exist within complex communities. In this Special Issue, the term “metabolites” refers only to the small molecules showing important functions in biological processes, with particular emphasis on secondary metabolites. The set of low-molecular-weight metabolites that are produced by organisms is defined as the “metabolome”. The components of the metabolome represent the end products of gene expression and define the biochemical status of an organism.

In the present Special Issue, the following topics will be covered:

• isolation of novel microbial compounds using metabolomic approaches;
• molecules and metabolomes related to agricultural applications (crop and animal productions);
• microbiomes and related natural products with beneficial effects in agriculture;
• plant metabolites with bioactive properties;
• influence of beneficial microbes and/or their metabolites on plant metabolomes;
• microbial metabolites involved in plant or animal interactions;
• influence of production technologies on animal metabolomes and microbiomes.

Full research papers, reviews, short communications reporting the finding and the characterization of molecules, metabolomes, and related microbiomes and showing their potential for agricultural applications both directly (e.g., increased nutritional value of crops) and indirectly (e.g., effects on the environment, agricultural practices, etc.), as well as their effects on health are invited for this editorial project.

Dr. Francesco Vinale
Prof. Maria Luisa Balestrieri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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