Decoding Functional Interactions Between Gut Microbiota and Host: From Molecules to Mechanisms

The field of gut microbiota research has undergone rapid expansion, uncovering the intricate relationship between microbial communities in the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract and their hosts. Recent evidence highlights that these resident microbes play key roles in shaping host physiology, immune system maturation, metabolism, and susceptibility to diverse diseases. While correlations between gut microbiota composition and host phenotypes are now widely recognized, a major challenge persists: understanding the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms driving these associations. Significant studies have illuminated some bacterial metabolites, surface molecules, and signalling pathways implicated in host-microbe crosstalk, yet many questions remain regarding the precise molecular dialogues and the causal impact of specific microbes and their products on host biology. Current research is leveraging multi-omics, gnotobiotic models, and systems biology approaches to move from association to causation. However, an integrated mechanistic understanding of these processes across vertebrate taxa is still lacking.This Research Topic aims to catalyse mechanistic studies that advance our knowledge of how gut microbiota directly impact host physiology at the molecular level. The objective is to gather contributions that not only describe functional outcomes but also delineate the molecules, pathways, and interactions underpinning these effects. We particularly seek research that bridges microbiology, immunology, physiology, and computational biology to answer key questions about how hosts detect, respond to, and co-evolve with their microbial partners. A central goal is to elucidate how interventions, such as dietary changes or pharmaceutical treatments, can modulate these intricate host-microbe networks, ultimately informing microbiome-based strategies to promote health and combat disease.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses studies that address the molecular and cellular basis of gut microbiota-host interplay in vertebrates, ranging from fundamental discoveries to translational insights. We invite submissions that span experimental, computational, and comparative perspectives across diverse vertebrate models. To gather further insights in these areas, we welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Perspectives and all type of articles accepted by the journal addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Identification and functional characterization of microbial molecules mediating host communication.o Host signalling pathways, receptors, and immune mechanisms sensing microbial cues.o Gnotobiotic, germ-free, and defined-community models establishing causal relationships.o Multi-omics and systems biology analyses mapping host-microbe interaction networks.o Influence of diet, environment, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens on host-microbe crosstalk.o The molecular level of impact of faecal microbiota transplantation on host health and diseaseo Potential therapeutic approaches involving host-microbe interaction.o Comparative studies revealing conserved and species-specific mechanisms across vertebrates. Topic editors: Emidio Scarpellini, Hao Kan, Alexander Bertuccioli Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75897/decoding-functional-interactions-between-gut-microbiota-and-host-from-molecules-to-mechanisms