Glycosylation at the Interface of Gut Microbes-Host Interaction

Glycosylation plays a crucial role in shaping host-microbe interactions within the gut, influencing intestinal homeostasis, immune regulation, and microbiota stability. This Research Topic aims to explore the diverse mechanisms through which both host- and microbial glycosylation modulates the gut environment, with a focus on its impact on host immune responses, barrier integrity, and microbial ecology.

The intestinal mucosa is coated with a complex network of glycosylated molecules, including mucins, glycolipids, and glycoproteins, which serve as key mediators of host-microbe communication. Host glycosylation patterns can influence bacterial colonization, immune recognition, and pathogen exclusion. Conversely, gut bacteria have evolved strategies to utilize host-derived glycans as nutrients, modify glycosylation patterns, and evade immune surveillance. Understanding these bidirectional interactions is essential for uncovering novel therapeutic strategies for gut-related diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic disorders, and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).

This collection welcomes original research, reviews, and perspectives covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
• The role of glycosylation in shaping gut microbiota composition and function.
• Mechanisms by which bacterial glycosylation influences host immune responses.
• The impact of glycosylation on intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity.
• Host-derived glycans as metabolic substrates and signaling molecules for gut bacteria.
• Glycoengineering approaches for modulating host-microbe interactions and therapeutic interventions.

By bringing together cutting-edge research in glycosylation and gut microbiology, this Research Topic aims to provide novel insights into the molecular crosstalk at the gut microbiota-host interface, paving the way for innovative microbial-based therapies and precision medicine approaches.

We invite researchers from microbiology, immunology, glycobiology, and related fields to contribute their latest findings and perspectives to this Research Topic.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Gut microbiota, host-microbe interactions, glycosylation, intestinal homeostasis, immune regulation, microbial ecology, intestinal barrier integrity, mucosal immunity, glycoproteins and glycolipids, bacterial glycosylation, host-derived glycans

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.