About this Research Topic

Background

The microbiome plays an indispensable role in our health. Pathophysiological alterations in the gut microbiota has been linked with the development and maintenance of non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. In order to better investigate the interactions between human health/disease and microbiota and given the practical and ethical complexity of performing invasive sampling procedures in human subjects, different types of animal models have been developed and are frequently used to investigate the multiple dynamics of host–microbiome interactions.

Due to the similar organ size and similar metabolic characteristics of pigs and humans, pigs are considered to be a more suitable model for basic biomedical research studies and for studying human-related metabolic diseases than rodents. The anatomical characters, physiological traits, genetics and biochemical indices of pigs are similar to what is reported in humans, thus, pig can be used as a model animal to characterize human gut microbiota and for studying several human diseases. The swine intestinal tract harbours trillions of diverse microorganisms, which get involved in regulating host nutrient digestion, energy absorption, and disease development, and is considered to be one of the main model animal of human obesity and disease research. Since the gastrointestinal organs of pigs are closer to humans, we also use pigs as a model for studying the role of functional foods in intestinal pathophysiology and related indicators of the physical barrier, biochemical barrier, immunological barrier and gut microbiota. Pigs are also the best animal models for exploring the mechanisms underlying human nutrient digestion and absorption, metabolism, and disease treatment. Large animal models such as piglets have been also used to study neonatal diet impact on gut, microbiota and immune system. Pigs and piglets are also convenient models for exploring avenues for developing novel microbial therapies. Pigs and piglets represent hence some of the most widely used animal models for studying the impact of microbiota on its host, and for exploring the dynamics of host–gut microbiome interactions and the roles of human gut microbiota in human health and disease development.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews and Perspective articles related to studies performed in pig/piglet models exploring the influence of gut microbiome on human health, and addressing, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

- The influence of neonatal diet and different feeding methods on gut microbiota and immune system
- The Impact for intestinal homeostasis of diet and stress such as short-term hunger
- The mechanisms of human nutrition digestion and absorption, metabolism, and disease treatment
- The impact of functional foods on intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota
- The effect of host genetics and gut microbiome on fat deposition in relation to obesity
- The immediate effects of feeding diets on fatty acid composition and biochemical immune indexes in serum and metabolome–microbiome responses
- The effects and impact of gut microbiota colonization on hypothalamic function and health
- The effects of gut microbiome and SCFAs on modulating weight
- The effects of antibiotics and probiotics on the development and composition of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function during weaning period
- The underlying mechanism of dietary supplementation improving intestinal barrier function, inflammation, antioxidant status, and microbiota
- The alterations of gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in relation to feeding attitudes
- The influences of probiotics or synbiotics addition to mothers’ diets on dynamic change of colonic microbiota and their metabolites in offspring
- Transmission of gut bacteria from mothers to infants and potential mechanism of the establishment of gut microbial community

Keywords: microbiota, gut, pig, piglets, model, human health, human, health

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