Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Physiology

Chronic metabolic and inflammatory disease burden is on the rise worldwide. The gut microbiome has been recognized as an integral part of maintaining metabolic homeostasis and immune balance. Alteration of the normal gut microbiome, or gut dysbiosis, leads to physiological imbalance and dysregulated immune activation with a shift towards an inflammatory milieu and unbalanced physiology within the body. Various metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, are associated with an altered gut microbiome. While it is well recognized that the gut microbiome is integral to immune balance, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome contributes to physiologic homeostasis and metabolism. Furthermore, many questions remain regarding the link between chronic disease states and the gut microbiome.

The goal of this Research Topic is to explore novel concepts related to the microbiome and metabolic physiology in various organ systems. Specifically, the Research Topic is designed to highlight studies and concepts related to microbiome dysbiosis, metabolism, inflammation, the gut-brain axis and related chronic diseases. The Topic will focus on the following areas:
1. The role of the gut microbiome in normal metabolism, immunity, and human health.
2. The mechanisms by which gut microbiome dysbiosis contributes to immune activation, systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
3. Crosstalk between the gut microbiome, metabolism, and immunity and how this links to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disease, oncogenesis, and autoimmunity.

Please note that abstract submission is not mandatory. Interested individuals and research groups are welcome to submit their manuscript to this Research Topic without submitting an abstract beforehand.