The journal scope includes investigations of microbiomes present in one or various body compartments of human beings or other animals. Surveys on the establishment of microbial communities, microbe-microbe interactions, and microbe-host communication are welcome for publication. In particular, the journal emphasizes the identification and functional investigation of the role exerted by microbial taxa as well as microbial genes and microbial metabolites markers associated with health and disease. The journal focuses on studies that provide information on microbiome/microbiome composition in various animal-relevant niches and generate insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying microbiome function. Thus, the journal emphasizes functional interactions between microbes themselves, between microbes and their environment, and between microbes and their host.
The journal aims to publish high-quality research from scientists with a common interest in microbiome/microbiota research in all its multidisciplinary aspects. The main areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:
the structure, activities and communal behavior of microbial communities
microbial community genetics and evolutionary processes
microbial symbioses, microbial interactions
microbial metabolic and structural diversity
microbial physiology, growth and survival
microbes and surfaces, adhesion and biofouling
modelling, theory development and new analysis pipelines
viromes/phageome
antimicrobials and competition in microbiomes
fungal communities (mycobiomes)
exploration of microbial dark matter
culturomics approaches applied to microbiomes
metabolomics and proteomic approaches applied to microbiomes
metatranscriptomics applied to microbiomes
new technological developments in the study of composition and activities of microbial communities, as-yet uncultured microorganisms
gnotobiotic studies
develoment of minimal microbial consortia and synthetic communities for functional microbe-host studies
probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics
microbial-derived metabolites originating from food/feed and playing a role on host physiology
effect of microbiota modulation in gastrointestinal disorders
effect of microbiota modulation in metabolic disorders
novel treatments and clinical trials
impact of dietary components on the microbiota, and inter-individual variation in responses
host-microbiome interaction in immune response
Interdisciplinary studies of fundamental problems are particularly welcome. The journal publishes a variety of formats including Original Research articles, Short Reports, Reviews and Commentaries, et al.