Advancing poultry health, immunity and development by understanding the avian microbiome

The avian gastrointestinal microbiome is now recognized as a central regulator of physiological function in birds, exerting profound effects on nutrient metabolism, immune system development, endocrine signaling, barrier integrity, and overall health. As birds encounter nutritional imbalances, environmental stressors, and immunological challenges across diverse settings, host–microbiome interactions have become critical determinants of physiological resilience.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of how the avian microbiome shapes physiological processes across tissues and developmental stages. Rather than viewing the microbiome solely as a digestive component, this collection emphasizes its role as a dynamic physiological system that interacts closely with host metabolism, immune signaling pathways, and stress-response mechanisms. These interactions are increasingly recognized as key drivers of physiological development, disease resistance, reproductive function, and tolerance to environmental stressors such as heat stress and oxidative challenges.We invite contributions that explore microbiome–host crosstalk from molecular, cellular, tissue-level, and whole-animal perspectives. Studies employing advanced methodologies including metagenomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, nutrigenomics, and integrative computational approaches are particularly encouraged. Comparative investigations across avian species, genetic lines, and developmental stages are also welcomed, as they provide critical insights into conserved and divergent microbiome-driven physiological mechanisms.This Research Topic seeks to bridge fundamental avian physiology with translational applications by highlighting how dietary interventions, environmental conditions, and host genetic backgrounds shape the microbiome and, in turn, influence physiological outcomes. Special emphasis is placed on mechanistic insights into microbial metabolites, gut–liver and gut–immune axes, epithelial barrier function, immune–metabolic trade-offs, and microbiome-mediated stress adaptation.By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among physiologists, microbiologists, nutritionists, veterinarians, and data scientists, this collection aims to advance conceptual understanding of avian health and welfare. Eventually, this Research Topic will serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers seeking to harness microbiome-informed insights to better understand avian physiology.Submissions addressing the following topics, including but not limited to, are welcome:i. Microbiome regulation of nutrient digestion, metabolism, and energy utilization in birds.ii. Gut–immune and gut–liver axes in avian physiological regulation.iii. The roles of microbial metabolites in immune modulation, epithelial integrity, and systemic physiology.iv. The developmental establishment of the avian microbiome and long-term health outcomes.v. Microbiome responses to dietary interventions, feed additives, probiotics, prebiotics, and nutrigenomic strategies.vi. Host genetic and epigenetic influences on microbiome composition and functional capacity.vii. Microbiome dynamics under heat stress, oxidative stress, and infectious or metabolic disease challenges.viii. Comparative microbiome physiology across avian species, breeds, and genetic lines.ix. Identification and utilization of microbiome-derived biomarkers for health status and disease susceptibility.x. Machine learning, systems biology, and data-driven approaches to modeling microbiome–host physiological interactions. Topic editors: Hai Lin, Colin Guy Scanes Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78421/advancing-poultry-health-immunity-and-development-by-understanding-the-avian-microbiome