Probiotics and Gut Health: Pharmacology of Microbiota Modulation, Mucosal Protection, and Immune Homeostasis

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, including epithelial barrier integrity, mucosal immunity, microbial metabolism, and protection against pathogens. Probiotics may support gut health through diverse species-and strain-specific mechanisms, including modulation of the intestinal microbiota, reinforcement of epithelial and mucosal barriers, regulation of immune responses, production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and antimicrobial activity. However, further mechanistic evidence is needed to better understand how these effects translate into health benefits under physiological and pathological conditions.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the cellular, molecular, microbial, and metabolic mechanisms through which probiotics influence intestinal health and homeostasis. It welcomes original research and review articles addressing probiotic effects on:• Gut microbiota composition and function• Intestinal epithelial and mucosal barrier integrity• Cancer and gut microbial modulation • Enterocyte, mucin, and tight-junction interactions.• Mucosal immune and inflammatory responses• Microbial metabolites, including SCFAS• Antimicrobial activity and intestinal pathogen interactions• Antibiotic-associated dysbiosis and intestinal injury• Species- and strain-specific mechanisms, including spore-forming probiotics• Translation of mechanistic findings into potential clinical applications Topic editors: Raghvendra Ashok Bohara, Sheng-long Xia Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85984/probiotics-and-gut-health-pharmacology-of-microbiota-modulation-mucosal-protection-and-immune-homeostasis