Guest Editors
Prof. Dr. Dan C. Vodnar
Email: dan.vodnar@usamvcluj.ro
Affiliation: Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372, Cluj–Napoca, Romania
Institute of Life Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj–Napoca, Romania
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Research Interests: postbiotics, psychobiotics, gut–brain axis, functional foods, probiotics, fermented foods, microbial metabolites, microencapsulation
Dr. Calinoiu Lavinia Florina
Email: lavinia.calinoiu@usamvcluj.ro
Affiliation: Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj–Napoca, Romania
Institute of Life Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj–Napoca, Romania
Homepage:
Research Interests: solid-state fermentation, vitamin b12 fortification, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, dietary fibre-microbiota interactions, phenolic compounds, bioavailability
Summary
Gut microbiota produce a wide range of bioactive molecules, including metabolites, peptides, and cell surface components, which can profoundly influence host physiology and pathology. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which these microbial-derived factors regulate host cell signaling pathways, modulate immune responses, maintain epithelial barrier integrity, or impact the gut–brain axis remain incompletely understood.
This Special Issue aims to gather original research and reviews focusing on cellular-level mechanisms underlying the interactions between gut microbiota-derived molecules and host cells. Submissions should clearly elucidate molecular pathways and cellular processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, migration, differentiation, or immune modulation. Studies employing cell culture models, molecular biology techniques, and mechanistic validation in vivo are particularly welcome.
Research topics include but are not limited to:
1. Microbial Metabolites and Regulation of Host Cell Signaling Pathways:
Exploring how metabolites like SCFAs, indoles, and bile acids modulate cellular signaling pathways in host epithelial and immune cells.
2. Cellular Mechanisms of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics:
Investigating molecular pathways by which probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics influence host cell functions and responses.
3. Gut Microbiota and Regulation of Epithelial Cell Barrier Function:
Studies on how gut microbes and their products regulate tight junctions, epithelial integrity, and cellular turnover.
4. Immune Cell Modulation by Microbiota-Derived Molecules:
Mechanistic insights into how microbial factors modulate immune cell signaling, activation, and metabolic programming.
5. Microbial Factors and Neuronal/Glial Cell Mechanisms in the Gut–Brain Axis:
Research on the cellular effects of microbiota-derived molecules on neuronal excitability, glial activation, and neuroinflammation.
6. Functional Foods or Bioactive Compounds Modulating Gut Microbiota–Cell Interactions:
Examining how dietary components influence gut microbiota and their interaction with host cells at molecular and cellular levels.
Keywords
gut microbiota, probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, microbial metabolites, SCFAs, gut–brain axis, epithelial barrier, immune modulation, cell signaling, molecular mechanisms
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