Probiotics, Postbiotics, Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Health

Dear Colleagues,

The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex microbial ecosystem that plays a key role in maintaining host health through dynamic interactions with metabolic, immune, and neurological systems. Disruptions in this delicate balance, termed dysbiosis, are increasingly linked to inflammatory bowel diseases, functional GI disorders, obesity, and even extra-intestinal conditions such as nervous system and autoimmune diseases. Emerging research highlights the critical contributions of probiotics and postbiotics in modulating gut microbiota composition and function, thereby influencing gastrointestinal homeostasis. As live microorganisms, probiotics act through multifaceted mechanisms, including enhancing mucosal barrier function via tight junction protein modulation, the competitive exclusion of pathogens, and the production of bioactive metabolites. Postbiotics, in contrast, exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects independent of microbial viability. Crucially, probiotics and postbiotics both have the ability to shape gut microbiota ecology by enriching commensal taxa.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute works with cutting-edge methodologies, including multi-omics integration, synthetic biology, and microbiota engineering, to unravel causal relationships between microbial communities and host physiology. This Special Issue aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying probiotic–host interactions, the therapeutic potential of postbiotics, and innovative strategies with which to restore gut microbiota balance in disease states. We aspire to synthesize different insights in order to utilize microbial resources for combating gastrointestinal disorders globally and foster the development of next-generation biotherapeutics. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Molecular cross-talk mechanisms governing probiotic–host interactions.
• Emerging therapeutic applications of postbiotic metabolites.
• Novel intervention strategies for gut microbiota modulation in pathological conditions.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Fei Liu
Guest Editor

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