Plant Role in Human Gene Expression and Gut Microbiome Regulation

  • 9,482

    Total downloads

  • 31k

    Total views and downloads

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables significantly contributes to the maintenance of human health and aging. Numerous factors can be involved. For many years, scientists believed that these beneficial effects were only due to the antioxidant properties of polyphenols or other similar nutrients present in almost all fruits or vegetables typically used in the human diet. Nowadays, thanks to the advent of omics studies and the application of bioinformatics and computational biology approaches, it is recognized worldwide that plant nutrients can affect the level of expression of human genes and gut microbiome regulation. The molecular mechanisms through which these effects are propagated in humans is still poorly understood, but the number of publications in the field is growing at an exponential rate. The types of approaches used are multidisciplinary and can span from gene- and nutrient-specific investigations to large-scale analyses at the genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and microbiome level.

The impact of ingested RNA from vegetable food sources on gene expression in nematodes and insects is something that has been known for a long time. More recently, a similar phenomenon has also been reported in human and other mammals. This discovery brought on what has been called the “xenomiR hypothesis,” which give rise to a new research field in nutrition based on the concept that plant miRNAs can target and regulate the expression of animal genes. Altogether, these findings have generated both excitement and controversy, with a critical debate as to whether the plant-derived miRNAs detected in animal samples represent contamination during experiments or bona fide xenomiRs. Different published studies have provided evidence that plant-derived miRNAs could survive the digestive system, be absorbed and transferred into the blood, circulate through the body, regulate animal gene expression as endogenous RNAs, and induce different phenotypes. On the other side, accumulating evidence demonstrates that miRNAs can be transferred to neighboring or distant cells via secreted endoplasmic vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, and act as a modulator of cell function. Notably, the diet has a considerable effect on the composition of the human gut microbiota that in turn has an essential role in maintaining host physiology and its health condition. In this context, a recent study showed that plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are adsorbed by the gut microbiota and contain RNAs that alter microbiome composition and host physiology.

The present Research Topic focuses on studies and methodological approaches that can shed light on the molecular mechanisms and biological processes of a possible cross-kingdom genetic interaction between plant RNA and human genes or the microbiome. It will also feature perspectives of the potential impact of these findings on the improvement of nutrition for human health, effects on the gut microbiome, and the therapeutic potential of these RNAs in the medical field.

This Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects:
· Nutrigenomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and microbiome studies investigating a potential cross-kingdom genetic interaction between bioavailable plant nutrients and human gene expression or gut microbiome regulation
· Bioinformatics, computational biology, and machine learning models and applications that can aid big data analysis and research in this field

Keywords: plant ncRNAs, gut microbiome, gene expression, nutrition, nutrigenetics, plant miRNAs

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Participating Journals

Impact

  • 31kTopic views
  • 20kArticle views
  • 9,482Article downloads
View impact