Gut Microbes

Linking the environmental microbiome, human gut microbiome and human health

Current research suggests that imbalances in the gut microbiome contribute to the global rise in metabolic and non-communicable diseases. Gut microbiome dysbiosis—disruption in the composition of gut microorganisms—is a common factor associated with various metabolic and non-communicable diseases. Further investigation into the underlying causes of dysbiosis has also identified several environmental influences, including exposure to biodiversity, dietary patterns, and chemical compounds found in food. This line of inquiry has also expanded to examine the role of microbiomes across various ecosystems, such as those of animals, plants, and soils, and how disturbances within these systems can affect human health. We are still in the early stages of understanding this interconnectedness, which highlights the complex relationships among our environment, food systems, and health outcomes.

An important area for further research is understanding the extent to which environmental microbiota influences gut microbiome diversity and disease outcomes. The mechanisms of microbiome transmission are not yet fully understood; for example, foods may serve as vectors connecting environmental microbiomes to human gut flora.  Given the association between gut microbiome diversity and the development of various metabolic and non-communicable diseases, targeted studies examining how environmental microbiomes impact individuals with non-communicable diseases would be valuable. Additionally, research into the mechanistic processes and the influence of the environmental microbiome on human health, through animal models and clinical studies, is needed. Understanding these dynamics will be instrumental in developing strategies to improve health outcomes through microbiome management.

Topics of interest encompass, but are not limited to:

• Advancements in omics technologies for microbiome profiling in metabolic and non-communicable diseases;
• Interactions between human immune systems and environmental microbiomes in the context of metabolic and non-communicable diseases;
• The development and evaluation of microbiome-based therapeutics, including fecal microbiota transplantation, microbial consortia, microbial products, and probiotics;
• Microbiome-targeted interventions such as dietary modifications;
• Microbiome-based diagnostic approaches.

Both preclinical studies utilizing animal and organic models and observational or interventional clinical studies will be considered.

Keywords

• Gut microbiome
• Environmental microbiome
• Exposome
• Multi-omics
• Metabolic and non-communicable diseases

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 31 July 2026.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Guest Advisor

Dr. Wisnu Adi Wicaksono is a senior scientist at the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology. Over the past four years in Austria, his research has focused on translating scientific findings into innovative biotechnological solutions to promote environmental sustainability and support the health of plants and humans. Currently, his research emphasizes the relationship between environmental microbiota and human health, exploring the connections among the environmental microbiome, the human gut microbiome, and various health outcomes, including metabolic and non-communicable diseases. Dr. Wicaksono has authored over 40 original research articles and reviews published in reputable scientific journals such as Gut Microbes, Microbiome, Environmental Microbiome, and mSystems.