About this Research Topic
Please note that Systems Microbiology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles, unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation, and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied.
As a hidden 'organ' in the holobiont, trillions of symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the mammalian gut lumen exert complex functions to maintain host homeostasis, including potential influences on drug metabolism. With the rapid development of omics technologies, there is growing evidence to suggest that gut microbiota regulates host and drug metabolism through various avenues. Interestingly, studies have found that approximately two-thirds of common drugs are chemically modified by at least one bacterium among 76 bacteria from the human gut, providing a possible explanation for the variation in therapeutic outcomes observed between individuals administered the same drug.
It is worth noting that commensal microbiota has been thought to play a role reminiscent of a double-edged sword, potentially increasing drug efficacy, but in some cases increasing the toxicity and decreasing the stability of compounds. For example, a prominent ginseng compound, ginsenosides, can be converted into active compound K by β-glucosidase and β-glycosidase, produced by lactic acid bacteria. Conversely, bacteria within the gut have been found to increase the toxicity of irinotecan via the production of β-glucuronidase. Additionally, studies have shown that certain gut bacteria disrupt the detoxification mechanism of acetaminophen by a competitive decrease of sulfotransferase. Moreover, Eggerthella lenta is thought to be responsible for the inactivation of a cardiac glycoside, digoxin, through glycoside reductase. However, current evidence exploring the relationship between gut microbiota and drug metabolism is still largely insufficient. Furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of drug metabolism by gut microbiota will be important as this may facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets in drug development and personalized medicine.
Thus, through this Research Topic, 'The Role of Commensal Microbiota in Drug Metabolism: Friend or Foe?', we aim to explore how commensal microbiota directly or indirectly affect drug metabolism, and the potential mechanisms through which this is achieved. This collection welcomes the submission of article types including Original Research, Review, and Mini Review, that explore the dynamics between gut microbiota and drug metabolism. We particularly encourage submissions on the following, but not limited to, sub-topics:
1) Exploring the impact of microbiota-host co-metabolism on drugs.
2) Studying the effect of commensal microbiota on host drug metabolism.
3) Examining whether drugs are metabolized by commensal microbiota directly or indirectly.
4) Investigating whether drug metabolism can be regulated through manipulating commensal microbiota.
5) Considering the potential of personalized drug regimens based on commensal microbiota and human genetic factors.
As a hidden 'organ' in the holobiont, trillions of symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the mammalian gut lumen exert complex functions to maintain host homeostasis, including potential influences on drug metabolism. With the rapid development of omics technologies, there is growing evidence to suggest that gut microbiota regulates host and drug metabolism through various avenues. Interestingly, studies have found that approximately two-thirds of common drugs are chemically modified by at least one bacterium among 76 bacteria from the human gut, providing a possible explanation for the variation in therapeutic outcomes observed between individuals administered the same drug.
It is worth noting that commensal microbiota has been thought to play a role reminiscent of a double-edged sword, potentially increasing drug efficacy, but in some cases increasing the toxicity and decreasing the stability of compounds. For example, a prominent ginseng compound, ginsenosides, can be converted into active compound K by β-glucosidase and β-glycosidase, produced by lactic acid bacteria. Conversely, bacteria within the gut have been found to increase the toxicity of irinotecan via the production of β-glucuronidase. Additionally, studies have shown that certain gut bacteria disrupt the detoxification mechanism of acetaminophen by a competitive decrease of sulfotransferase. Moreover, Eggerthella lenta is thought to be responsible for the inactivation of a cardiac glycoside, digoxin, through glycoside reductase. However, current evidence exploring the relationship between gut microbiota and drug metabolism is still largely insufficient. Furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of drug metabolism by gut microbiota will be important as this may facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets in drug development and personalized medicine.
Thus, through this Research Topic, 'The Role of Commensal Microbiota in Drug Metabolism: Friend or Foe?', we aim to explore how commensal microbiota directly or indirectly affect drug metabolism, and the potential mechanisms through which this is achieved. This collection welcomes the submission of article types including Original Research, Review, and Mini Review, that explore the dynamics between gut microbiota and drug metabolism. We particularly encourage submissions on the following, but not limited to, sub-topics:
1) Exploring the impact of microbiota-host co-metabolism on drugs.
2) Studying the effect of commensal microbiota on host drug metabolism.
3) Examining whether drugs are metabolized by commensal microbiota directly or indirectly.
4) Investigating whether drug metabolism can be regulated through manipulating commensal microbiota.
5) Considering the potential of personalized drug regimens based on commensal microbiota and human genetic factors.
Keywords: Drug metabolism, Gut microbiome, Metagenomics, Herbal medicine, Precision medicine, Personalized medicine, Biotransformation, Microbe-Host Co-Metabolism, Xenobiotic
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
