Immunomodulatory Role of Microbiota in Inflammation and Cancer

In recent years, the role of gut microbiota has become the major area of focus in human health and diseases. Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of gut microbiota in the regulation of inflammation and cancer. Several factors including infection, diet, use of antibiotics, surgery, as well as host genetics are known to affect the dynamics of microbial communities in the intestine and play a critical role in modulating both the innate and adaptive immune systems and the development of inflammatory disease and cancer. Adverse effects of microbial dysbiosis may not be immediately apparent, but the long-term consequences of microbial dysbiosis on human health include obesity, metabolic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and neurological disorder, all of that contribute to increased risk of cancer. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms and the role of gut microbes and microbial metabolites in inflammation and cancer remain elusive.

This research topic aims to illustrate the recent advances on the immunomodulatory role of commensal microbiota and microbial metabolites in the regulation of inflammation and cancer. The goal of this special issue is not only restricted to provide a stimulus for developmental efforts towards the application of microbiota and microbial metabolites in immunotherapy, but also illuminate on the molecular mechanism and mode of actions that will pave the way to combat against inflammatory disease and cancer.

This special issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and mini reviews focusing on:
• identification of novel microbes that modulate the host immune system to exert either protective or harmful effects on the progression of inflammatory disease and cancer.
• role of dysbiotic gut microbiome in the modulation of host immune response to induce chronic inflammation and cancer, and the potential advantages of using probiotics, prebiotics, and other dietary supplements.
• development of the novel strategies especially based on the immunomodulatory role of microbiota or microbial metabolites that help to overcome the limitations of the existing therapy to better control and manage various inflammatory diseases and cancers.
• the intricate molecular mechanism and the potential signaling pathway involved in the microbes and/or microbial metabolite-based therapy.

Keywords: Gut microbiota, inflammation, immunotherapy, cancer, microbial metabolites

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