Microbiota refers to the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, that inhabit different sites within their host. In humans, the gut microbiota is one of the most extensively studied and essential microbiomes, playing crucial roles in digestion, metabolism, immune function, and overall health. The microbiota can influence health in various ways and is affected by several factors such as diet, environment, and genetics.

The dynamic interaction between microbiota and its host is essential, influencing various aspects of host physiology from immune function to metabolism and mental health. However, disrupted host-microbiota interactions, arising from genetic or environmental factors, may contribute to the underlying pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Targeting the microbiota offers a promising avenue for the treatment and management of autoimmune diseases. Since dysbiosis is associated with increased disease susceptibility and severity. Strategies aimed at restoring a healthy microbiota, such as probiotics, can modulate immune responses.

This Research Topic aims to enhance our understanding of the interactions between the host and microbiota and their role in regulating the immune system and contributing to immune dysfunction. We invite both basic and translational studies that explore host-microbiota interactions along key axes, including gut-brain, gut-liver, and gut-skin and the impact of dysbiosis on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. We welcome studies that explore the role of innate immunity and inflammatory pathways in the cross-talk between microbiota and the host immune system and studies exploring whether microbial or metabolomic signatures can be defined to predict disease onset and relapse, severity, or therapeutic response. Our goal is to gather studies aiming at identifying mechanisms that could help develop novel therapeutic strategies or pave the way for personalized microbiota-targeted interventions.

We invite studies exploring how changes in microbiota composition and function can lead to immune dysregulation. This Research Topic aims to leverage these insights to enhance the development of innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. By examining a wide range of immune-mediated diseases, we seek to uncover both common and disease-specific

interactions between microbiota and the immune system. Our goal is to clarify how microbiota influences immune responses and to identify patterns that may guide novel approaches for immune modulation and microbiota-targeted interventions. We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, brief research reports, meta-analyses, clinical studies, and perspective pieces that address topics including, but not limited to, the following:

- New insights into the mechanisms by which dysbiosis impacts immune signaling pathways in autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.

- The potential use of microbiota composition or metabolites as prognostic biomarkers for disease onset, progression, and remission.

- Strategies to modulate the microbiota for therapeutic benefits, including engineered probiotics and personalized nutrition approaches.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Host-Microbiota Interactions in Autoimmunity and Inflammatory Diseases: Exploring Therapeutic Opportunities

Topic Coordinator