Natural Immunomodulators in Veterinary Medicine

As for humans, a healthy and functional immune system in animals is key to maintaining health. Unfortunately, negative environmental influences, errors in nutrition, incorrect breeding practices or zoohygienic conditions, as well as stress caused by transportation or by high concentration in the case of farm animals, significantly weaken the immune system and subsequently reduce the animals' defenses and increase the risk of infectious diseases, as well as diseases caused by the injured immune system itself (e.g. allergies, autoimmune diseases). For the subsequent treatment of infectious diseases, antimicrobials, especially antibiotics, are still mostly used, increasing the selective pressure on microorganisms and encouraging the development of bacterial resistance. As more and more emphasis is currently placed on the production of healthy and safe food, without residues of antimicrobial substances, as well as on animal welfare and the minimization of negative effects on the environment, alternative strategies using substances of natural origin with a direct or indirect effect on the immune system are increasingly used .
Despite the fact that substances of natural origin (such as probiotics, prebiotics, phytoadditives, humic substances, and many others) are increasingly used in veterinary medicine, studies documenting their effectiveness often differ, which is also due to the insufficiently studied mechanism of their effect, always associated with influencing the immune response. The goal of this Research Topic is to expand knowledge about the immunomodulatory effects of various substances of natural origin used either in farm or companion animals, so that individual natural immunomodulators can be used in a targeted manner (e.g. stimulation in the prevention of infectious diseases versus inhibition in the case of allergies), accordingly to which components of the immune system they affect and in what way. Since many immunomodulators directly affect the microbiome of the organism, it is precisely the understanding of the connection between the influence of the microbiome and the immune system that can bring key insights.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to present novel knowledge about the immunomodulating effects of substances of natural origin, primarily, but not limited to, beneficial microorganisms (probiotic microorganisms, fecal transplant), prebiotics, phytoadditives, humic substances, polyunsaturated fatty acids and their combinations in farm animals (including honey bees and aquatic animals) as well as in companion animals. Studies on cell cultures or organoids are very helpful for understanding the mechanisms of action of immunomodulators and must also precede experiments on animals, therefore they are highly welcome. Likewise, studies of mutual interactions between the immune system and the microbiome can help clarify the mode of action of natural immunomodulators. In order to obtain truly relevant results, the use of accurate and modern methodologies and statistical analyzes is essential. We welcome Original Research papers, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, and Mini Reviews.