Microbiomes and their roles in farmed animals

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15.

The intricate relationships between animals and their microbiomes have emerged as a focal point of scientific inquiry, unraveling the profound influence these microbial communities have on host health, behavior, and ecology. Recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have propelled our understanding of animal-associated microbiomes, allowing for the exploration of diverse ecosystems. Given the escalating concerns regarding animal product amount and quality, there is an urgent need to synthesize current knowledge and uncover new insights into how microbiomes contribute to the host traits in  human-associated animals, especially farm animals. This Collection aims to highlight cutting-edge research that bridges fundamental microbiome science with animal production and health efforts, thereby facilitating a holistic understanding of host-microbe interactions.
 
In this Collection, we invite contributions that explore various dimensions of the  animal microbiome, including but not limited to its role in host physiology, performance, behavior, immune response, and disease susceptibility, as well as the implications of microbiome alterations in the face of environmental pollution. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary approaches that integrate molecular biology, ecology, multi-omics and bioinformatics to elucidate the dynamics of microbiome assembly and function across different human-managed animal ecosystems and environments. By fostering dialogue among researchers, veterinarians, agricultural scientists, and policy-makers, this Collection seeks to propel forward the conversation on microbiome research and its vital implications for animal health and ecosystem management.

This is a joint Collection across npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, npj Veterinary Sciences and Scientific Reports. Please see the relevant journal webpages to check which article types the journals consider.