Special Issue on Gut Flora

This special issue on “Gut Flora” will be focusing on the latest development in functional and pathogenic research of gut flora. Gut flora consists of a complex of microorganism species which live in the digestive tracts of animals and is the largest reservoir of human flora. Gut flora's primary benefit to the host is the gleaning of energy from the fermentation of undigested carbohydrates and the subsequent absorption of short chain fatty acids. The human body carries about 100 trillion microorganisms in its intestines, a number ten times greater than the total number of human cells in the body. Though people can survive without gut flora, the microorganisms perform a host of useful functions, such as fermenting unused energy substrates, training the immune system, preventing growth of harmful, pathogenic bacteria and so on. As one of the most important research fields of science research, gut flora is of great attractions to researchers.

In this special issue, we intend to invite front-line researchers and authors to submit original researches and review articles on exploring gut flora. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Acquisition of gut flora in human infants
• Carbohydrate fermentation and absorption by gut flora
• Repression of pathogenic microbial growth
• Preventing inflammatory bowel disease
• Gut microflora positively control the intestinal epithelial cell differentiation
• Continuous and dynamic effect on the host's gut and systemic immune systems

Authors should read over the journal’s Authors’ Guidelines carefully before submission. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal at Paper Submission System.

Please kindly notice that the “Special Issue” under your manuscript title is supposed to be specified and the research field “Special Issue - Gut Flora” should be chosen during your submission.

According to the following timetable:

Guest Editor:

Prof. Yung-Fu Chang

Cornell University, USA

For further questions or inquiries

Please contact Editorial Assistant at

aim@scirp.org