Gut Microbes

Gut microbiome influence on the enteric and central nervous systems contributing to health and diseases

This special article collection will present a comprehensive assembly of original research and review articles focused on the pivotal role of the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites in modulating both gastrointestinal and central nervous system functions. The gut, through its diverse microbial community and metabolite outputs, is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of systemic physiology. Substantial evidence now links gut microbial dysbiosis and altered metabolite profiles to a range of disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastrointestinal motility dysfunction, and neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions may share overlapping pathways involving microbial modulation of immune signaling, neuroinflammation, and gut–brain communication.

Elucidating the mechanistic roles of the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites in modulating enteric and central nervous system function is of critical importance. Disruptions in microbial composition and metabolic activity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of chronic and often treatment-refractory disorders. These include neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions such as ALS, MS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and PTSD, as well as functional gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and motility disturbances. As the global burden of these diseases continues to rise, advancing our understanding of gut-derived signalling pathways holds significant promise for the development of early biomarkers, improved diagnostic frameworks, and targeted therapeutic strategies.

This Collection will focus on the mechanistic contributions of the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites to disorders involving the enteric and central nervous systems. We welcome original research articles and reviews that provide mechanistic insights and/or translational relevance, consistent with the journal’s scope on host-microbe interactions in health and disease.

Keywords:

• Gut Microbiota
• Microbial Metabolites
• Gut-Brain Axis
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Gastrointestinal Disorders

­­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 March 2026.

Please contact Zhiyuan Zhang at zhiyuan.zhang@taylorandfrancis.com 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. Ravinder Kaur Gill, PhD, is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine (DOM) and Associate Director of the MSTP program at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Her basic research interests primarily focus on intestinal epithelial mechanisms, particularly the serotonin transporter and its interplay with aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling in health and disease. Dr. Gill’s also investigates the gut microbiota and host-microbial interactions, unravelling their roles in the pathogenesis of diseases. She has authored more than 95 peer reviewed publications and 12 book chapters and reviews.