About this Research Topic
The largest number of microorganisms in the animal exists in the intestinal tract, which makes an indelible contribution to creatural health. Bacteria in the gut can assist the host digest food, regulate intestinal endocrine function, assist in the transmission of neural signals, participate in adjusting the efficacy and metabolism of drugs, and can also produce a large number of compounds that enhance the host's immunity. There are about 400 different kinds of microorganisms in the ruminant gut, numbering up to trillions, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and some eukaryotes. Their species and numbers are influenced by the host's genetics, birth pattern, infant nutrition, daily lifestyle, and drug intake. Overall, a healthy gut microbial community depends on rich taxonomic diversity, superior microbial gene richness, and a sound core of microbiome function. Disturbed gut microbiota is related to several common animal diseases such as enteritis, obesity and diabetes, hyperimmune diseases, and autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases.
However, the gut microbiota is extremely susceptible to diet, drugs, and various environmental pollutants. Many environmental pollutants can induce the imbalance of intestinal flora, and then have many adverse effects on creatural health. Among many environmental pollutants, heavy metals such as molybdenum and cadmium have received extensive attention due to their unique toxicological effects. They induce pathological injuries such as carcinogenesis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, and affect the immune system. Molybdenum and cadmium absorbed by the intestine are transported to the target organs through the bloodstream, with severe detrimental effects on animal health. However, high concentrations of non-absorbed heavy metals are present in the intestinal microenvironment and they may cause devastating damage to the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and their physiological functions.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to highlight and stimulate discussion on the intestinal microflora of the ruminant and its relationship to the toxicology of heavy metals such as molybdenum and cadmium. We welcome mini-reviews, full-length reviews, and original research papers dealing with the following subtopics:
• Effects of intestinal microbe composition on heavy metals to body damage
• Toxicology of heavy metals and studies of intestinal microbiome and metabolites associated with animal metabolic health
• The effects of an environmentally relevant level of heavy metals on the gut microbiome and its functional metagenome
• Effects of heavy metal exposure on intestinal microflora and intestinal-related immune status
• The effects of heavy metal exposure on intestinal microbiome development, key metabolites, and metabolic pathways studied by multi-omics
However, the gut microbiota is extremely susceptible to diet, drugs, and various environmental pollutants. Many environmental pollutants can induce the imbalance of intestinal flora, and then have many adverse effects on creatural health. Among many environmental pollutants, heavy metals such as molybdenum and cadmium have received extensive attention due to their unique toxicological effects. They induce pathological injuries such as carcinogenesis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, and affect the immune system. Molybdenum and cadmium absorbed by the intestine are transported to the target organs through the bloodstream, with severe detrimental effects on animal health. However, high concentrations of non-absorbed heavy metals are present in the intestinal microenvironment and they may cause devastating damage to the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and their physiological functions.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to highlight and stimulate discussion on the intestinal microflora of the ruminant and its relationship to the toxicology of heavy metals such as molybdenum and cadmium. We welcome mini-reviews, full-length reviews, and original research papers dealing with the following subtopics:
• Effects of intestinal microbe composition on heavy metals to body damage
• Toxicology of heavy metals and studies of intestinal microbiome and metabolites associated with animal metabolic health
• The effects of an environmentally relevant level of heavy metals on the gut microbiome and its functional metagenome
• Effects of heavy metal exposure on intestinal microflora and intestinal-related immune status
• The effects of heavy metal exposure on intestinal microbiome development, key metabolites, and metabolic pathways studied by multi-omics
Keywords: Heavy Metals, Toxicology, Intestinal Microbiome, Metabonomics, Transcriptome
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.
