Host-microbiota interaction in gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases



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Host-microbiota interaction in gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases

Lead guest editor: Dr. Julie Chan

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a large amount of microorganisms, including bacteria, virus, archaea, and fungi, which are collectively defined as the GI microbiota. Presence of commensal bacteria in the GI tract was a long-known fact that did not draw much interest in the gastroenterological field over several decades, except in the cases of intestinal barrier dysfunction and septic complications. This neglected field was put into mainstream research in the post-human genome era, with accumulating evidence showing that GI microbiota is involved not only in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis but also in disease development throughout the body. The research in GI microbiota provides unforeseen molecular and genetic targets to understand the mechanisms of disease progression. However, teasing out the critical player(s) among this complex microbial ecosystem with genes 100-fold higher than those of the host would be a challenge for scientists to be used as novel strategies to treat human diseases. This special issue is dedicated to reviews that discuss various aspects of host-microbiota interaction in physiological states and in the context of human diseases such as gastrointestinal infection, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancers, and metabolic disorders.

1. Content Type:Review

   Probiotics, prebiotics and amelioration of diseases

   Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is closely related to occurrence of many important chronic inflammations-related diseases. So far the traditionally prescribed prebiotics and probiotics do not show significant impa...

   Authors:Yu-Ling Tsai, Tzu-Lung Lin, Chih-Jung Chang, Tsung-Ru Wu, Wei-Fan Lai, Chia-Chen Lu and Hsin-Chih Lai

   Citation:Journal of Biomedical Science 2019 26:3

   Published on: 4 January 2019

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2. Content Type:Review

   Pathobiont release from dysbiotic gut microbiota biofilms in intestinal inflammatory diseases: a role for iron?

   Gut microbiota interacting with an intact mucosal surface are key to the maintenance of homeostasis and health. This review discusses the current state of knowledge of the biofilm mode of growth of these micro...

   Authors:Andre Gerald Buret, Jean-Paul Motta, Thibault Allain, Jose Ferraz and John Lawrence Wallace

   Citation:Journal of Biomedical Science 2019 26:1

   Published on: 3 January 2019

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3. Content Type:Review

   Microbiota dysbiosis and barrier dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancers: exploring a common ground hypothesis

   Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disease which arises as a result of the interaction of genetic, environmental, barrier and microbial factors leading to chronic inflammation in the intestin...

   Authors:Linda Chia-Hui Yu

   Citation:Journal of Biomedical Science 2018 25:79

   Published on: 9 November 2018

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4. Content Type:Review

   Visceral pain: gut microbiota, a new hope?

   Visceral pain is a complex and heterogeneous disorder, which can range from the mild discomfort of indigestion to the agonizing pain of renal colic. Regulation of visceral pain involves the spinal cord as well...

   Authors:Matteo M Pusceddu and Melanie G Gareau

   Citation:Journal of Biomedical Science 2018 25:73

   Published on: 11 October 2018

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