Section edited by Souhaila Al Khodor
The Translational Metagenomics section publishes innovative research aiming to advance our understanding of the human microbiome-host interactions in health and disease through cutting-edge methodologies and translational applications.
We welcome studies employing advanced metagenomic approaches including 16S rRNA gene sequencing, shotgun sequencing and long-read technologies integrated with multi-omics platforms (metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics) to elucidate functional microbial dynamics. A particular emphasis is placed on artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for microbiome-based disease prediction, treatment response modeling, and biomarker discovery, as well as the development of novel computational tools for microbiome analysis.
The section also welcomes research with translational potential, including microbiome-targeted therapeutics (engineered probiotics, phage therapy, FMT optimization), clinical validation of microbial diagnostics, and personalized treatment strategies. In addition, we encourage systems-level investigations of multi-kingdom microbial networks and host-microbiome metabolic cross-talk. The section does not consider papers focusing on “pathogen-host” interaction. Studies addressing underrepresented populations and those developing open-source tools for the research community are particularly welcomed, with the ultimate goal of bridging basic microbiome science with clinical and therapeutic applications.
