According to the World Health Organization, more than 40 million people in the world are affected with dementia. To date, 60-70% of the cases of dementia are attributed to the Alzheimer's disease (AD). This neurodegenerative disorder gradually takes place over a period of at least 20 years before the onset of symptoms, which are impaired memory, apathy and depression. The characteristics of AD consist in neurofibrillary tangles (intraneuronal aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins) and senile plaques (dense extraneuronal deposits composed of amyloid ß (Aß)). The other features linked to these two core pathological hallmarks of AD are inflammation, oxidative stress, progressive synaptic and neuronal loss. In past years, some of the emerging therapeutic strategies against AD were employed to deal with the pathological hallmarks of the disease. Science teams all over the world try to restore the tau phosphorylation equilibrium. Their purpose is to interfere with the aggregation of tau and decrease its amount of proteins per se as well. Furthermore, they are trying either to stimulate the elimination processes of the aggregated tau proteins or to stop the formation of Aß peptides. This could be reached by the stimulation of the classic techniques of protein degradation such as the autophagic pathway, or by the targeted immunotherapy. In this Research Topic, we wish to summarize and review the etiology of AD and the related therapeutic opportunities for the next decades. To fully understand the precise mechanisms underlying AD, research findings, reviews, new insights and new approaches include AD and related tauopathies, tau phosphorylation balance, pharmacological compounds against AD, neuroprotection strategies and new therapeutic ways but also risk factors for AD and AD genetic information are included in this issue.

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We have entered a new era where some concepts of the complex community of microorganisms (microbiota comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, bacteriophages and helminths) are being re-discovered and re-visited. Microbiota and human interaction is not new; they have shared a long history of co-existence. Nevertheless, the opportunities to understand the role of these microorganisms in human diseases and to design a potential treatment were limited. At present, thanks to development of innovative and cutting-edge molecular biological and microbiological technologies as well as clinical informatics and bioinformatics skills, microbiome application is moving into clinics. Approaches to therapy based on prebiotics, probiotics and lately on fecal microbiota transplantation has revolutionized medicine. Microbiota outnumbers our genes and is now regarded as another organ of the body. The gastrointestinal tract and gut microbiota display a well-documented symbiotic relationship. Disruption of intestinal microbiota homeostasis—called dysbiosis—has been associated with several diseases. Whether dysbiosis is a cause or consequence of disease initiation and progression still needs to be investigated in more depth. The aim of this book is to highlight recent advances in the field of microbiome research, which are now shaping medicine, and current approaches to microbiome-oriented therapy for gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Rinaldo Pellicano Dr. Sharmila Fagoonee Guest Editors

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Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the obligate human pathogen“Neisseria gonorrhoeae”. This Gram-negative diplococcus is highly infective due to its virulence factors: pili, Por proteins, Opa proteins, Rmp proteins, lipooligosaccharides and IgA protease. Despite existing guidelines for its treatment, the incidence of the disease follows an increasing trend worldwide. This is mainly due to the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains, inefficient diagnostic methods and poor sexual education. Without an effective vaccine available, the key priorities for the control of the disease include sexual education, contact notification, epidemiological surveillance, diagnosis and effective antibiotic treatment. This Special Issue focuses on some of these important issuesm such as the molecular mechanisms of the disease, diagnostic tests and different treatment strategies used to combat gonorrhea.

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This collection of articles provides an overview of the current and future methods for applying a personalized medicine approach to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

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This book represents one of the most up-to-date collections of articles on clinical practice and research in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scholars who contributed to this book are experts in their field, carrying out cutting edge research in prestigious institutes worldwide (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of California, MIND Institute, King’s College, Karolinska Institute, and many others). The book addressed many topics, including (1) The COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Epidemiology and prevalence; (3) Screening and early behavioral markers; (4) Diagnostic and phenotypic profile; (5) Treatment and intervention; (6) Etiopathogenesis (biomarkers, biology, and genetic, epigenetic, and risk factors); (7) Comorbidity; (8) Adulthood; and (9) Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). This book testifies to the complexity of performing research in the field of ASD. The published contributions underline areas of progress and ongoing challenges in which more certain data is expected in the coming years. It would be desirable that experts, clinicians, researchers, and trainees could have the opportunity to read this updated text describing the challenging heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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This book represents one of the most up-to-date collections of articles on clinical practice and research in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The scholars who contributed to this book are experts in their field, carrying out cutting edge research in prestigious institutes worldwide (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of California, MIND Institute, King’s College, Karolinska Institute, and many others). The book addressed many topics, including (1) The COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Epidemiology and prevalence; (3) Screening and early behavioral markers; (4) Diagnostic and phenotypic profile; (5) Treatment and intervention; (6) Etiopathogenesis (biomarkers, biology, and genetic, epigenetic, and risk factors); (7) Comorbidity; (8) Adulthood; and (9) Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). This book testifies to the complexity of performing research in the field of ASD. The published contributions underline areas of progress and ongoing challenges in which more certain data is expected in the coming years. It would be desirable that experts, clinicians, researchers, and trainees could have the opportunity to read this updated text describing the challenging heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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The application of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses brings new dimensions to our understanding of the biology of phototrophic bacteria. Comparing gene sequences of photosynthetic reaction center proteins and a key enzyme of bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis from more than 150 genomes demonstrates the ancient roots of phototrophic bacteria. The presence and phylogeny of biosynthetic pathways of the compatible solutes ectoine and glycine betaine define groups of marine and halophilic phototrophic bacteria. The wide range of ecological niches conquered during evolution is demonstrated by the adaptation of cyanobacterial genera Scytonema, Tolypothrix, and Nostoc to different temperature ranges and the adaptation of Heliorestis species to alkaline habitats. Differences between phototrophic purple bacteria from marine and freshwater habitats are reflected in the preference for sulfidic and non-sulfidic niches. Also, a high proportion of siderophore producers was found among isolates from freshwater sources opposed to those from salty habitats . The primary colonization of carbonate rocks by a group of novel endolithic cyanobacteria and the following successions were studied over 9 months. The genomic characterization of the aerobic Dinoroseobacter strain AAP5, the strictly anaerobic and syntrophic Prosthecochloris ethylica, and the strictly anaerobic Heliorestis convoluta is reported. Significant differences in relation to oxygen are reflected in oxygen production by some species, oxygen tolerance over a wide range of concentrations, and the use of oxygen for energy generation or a strictly anaerobic lifestyle. Relations to oxygen are highlighted in papers on photooxidative stress, regulation of iron–sulfur cluster formation, and interactions of redox regulators. In situ metatranscriptomic and proteomic studies demonstrate the high metabolic flexibility of Chloroflexus aggregans in a hot spring microbial mat and show its adaptation to the changing conditions over day and night periods by a well-coordinated regulation of key metabolic processes for both phototrophic and chemotrophic growth.

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In the context of disease pathogenesis, it has been observed that after inadequate administration of antibiotics, animals become more susceptible to intestinal colonization and organ invasion by enteropathogens, these could be related to changes caused in the gastrointestinal microbial community. Therefore, we must reconsider the negative consequences that disruption of the microbiome has in the biology of metazoans (dysbacteriosis). Alternations of the intestinal microbiota composition in animals can be caused by multiple factors, including the misuse of antibiotics, having as a result a negative impact on the development and function of the immune, endocrine, nervous, and digestive systems. For this reason, social concerns regarding the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have resulted in an urgent necessity to find feasible alternatives to maintain animal health and performance without the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), in order to sustain livestock production as an economically viable source of food for human consumption. Hence, research about AGP alternatives such as probiotics, prebiotics, phytochemicals, organic acids, enzymes, and vaccines has become a priority for many scientists around the world.

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The book collects scientific contributions aiming at describing the common mechanism, across living species, by which innate immunity interacts with nanomaterials with the goal of harnessing such interactions for improving environmental and human safety and exploiting them for modulating immunity in vaccination strategies.

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Antimicrobial resistance is the intrinsic capability of microorganisms to survive unfavorable conditions; such traits are mainly transferrable through movable genetic elements, enabling the rapid and homogeneous diffusion of resistance genes over diverse ecosystems and sectors including human medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment. In this view, the One Health approach allows for a comprehensive depiction of the mechanisms responsible for the onset and spread of antimicrobial resistance traits, as well as enabling a clear definition of the dynamics that occurs among microbial members harboring diverse ecological niches that favor the orthogonal diffusion of antibiotic resistance between apparently separate milieus.

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This reprint is an excellent collection of articles that deal with difficult-to-treat infections in the ICU environment. Multiresistant bacteria and fungi create severe treatment problems to the physician charged with their care. We hope that this book will help everyday dilemmas and add useful information on difficult topics.

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The prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities, particularly type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and hepatic disease and certain cancers, continues to rise worldwide. Paradoxically, despite an increasingly obesogenic environment, particularly in Western societies, undernutrition is also extremely common. The application of novel, sophisticated techniques, particularly related to imaging and molecular biology, has substantially advanced our understanding of the mechanisms controlling appetite and energy intake. This has led to a redefinition of many concepts, including the relative importance of central versus peripheral mechanisms, recognising that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly gut hormones, plays a critical role. Given the major advance in knowledge in the field, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the GI mechanisms underlying the regulation of appetite and energy intake, as a series of definitive reviews by international authorities. The reviews address gut-related mechanisms, including nutrient sensing, gut hormones and GI motility, gut-brain communication, including the roles of the vagus and the modulation of reward perception, the roles of diet and the microbiota, as well as the abnormalities associated with eating disorders, specifically obesity and anorexia of ageing, and the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery. The reviews cover both preclinical research and studies in humans, and are complemented by a number of important original papers.

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Asthma is a common complex and heterogeneous respiratory disease with an increasing prevalence in developed countries. Asthma is a disease consisting of different phenotypes that are driven by different mechanistic pathways (endotypes). The recognition of these phenotypes and endotypes is central to asthma management entailing prognostic and therapeutic implications. It is acknowledged that despite optimal treatment, many patients are poorly controlled, highlighting the need for phenotype-guided treatments. In this context, the emergence of novel therapies (monoclonal antibody therapy, bronchial thermoplasty) is paving the way for personalized asthma therapy. A better understanding of disease pathogenesis may enable the identification of biomarkers, mediators, novel therapeutic targets, and treatable traits. Further molecular phenotyping or endotyping of asthma will be necessary to tailor new therapeutic strategies. The present Special Issue on Asthma aims to provide the current knowledge on phenotypes and endotypes in appreciating and managing the heterogeneous condition that is asthma.

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There is talk of an upcoming antibiotic armageddon, with untreatable post-operative infections, and similarly untreatable complications after chemotherapy. Indeed, the now famous “O’Neill Report” (https://amr-review.org/) suggests that, by 2050, more people might die from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections than from cancer. While we are still learning all the subtle drivers of antibiotic resistance, it seems increasingly clear that we need to take a “one health” approach, curtailing the use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine. However, there are no new classes of antibiotics on our horizon. Maybe something that has been around “forever” can come to our rescue—bacteriophages! Nevertheless, it is also necessary to do things differently, and use these new antimicrobials appropriately. Therefore, an in-depth study of bacteriophage biology and case-by-case applications might be required. Whilst by no means comprehensive, this book does cover some of the many topics related to bacteriophages as antimicrobials, including their use in human therapy and aquaculture. It also explores the potential use of phage endolysins as substitutes of antibiotics in two sectors where there is an urgent need—human therapy and the agro-food industry. Last but not least, there is an excellent perspective article on phage therapy implementation.

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This open access volume details protocols for sampling and analysis microbiomes from sites other than the gut. Chapters detail methods for analysing the virome, mycobiome, and emphasises the importance for inclusive and integrative microbiome studies. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Best Practice in Microbiome Research aims to highlight critical concepts, key features, and serves as a valuable benchmark.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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Human lactation has evolved to produce a milk composition that is uniquely-designed for the human infant. Not only does human milk optimize infant growth and development, it also provides protection from infection and disease. More recently, the importance of human milk and breastfeeding in the programming of infant health has risen to the fore. Anchoring of infant feeding in the developmental origins of health and disease has led to a resurgence of research focused in this area. Milk composition is highly variable both between and within mothers. Indeed the distinct maternal human milk signature, including its own microbiome, is influenced by environmental factors, such as diet, health, body composition and geographic residence. An understanding of these changes will lead to unravelling the adaptation of milk to the environment and its impact on the infant. In terms of the promotion of breastfeeding, health economics and epidemiology is instrumental in shaping public health policy and identifying barriers to breastfeeding. Further, basic research is imperative in order to design evidence-based interventions to improve both breastfeeding duration and women’s breastfeeding experience.

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The purpose of this Special Issue, “The Role of Nutrition in Cardiometabolic Health: Experimental, Clinical, and Community-Based Evidence”, is to publish a focused, coherent, impactful, and well-cited volume on how nutrition influences diverse cardiometabolic risk factors. Cardiometabolic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity are the leading causes of death worldwide. In recent years, dietary habits have shifted all over the globe. At the same time, a constantly growing body of evidence demonstrates the role of caloric intake and dietary composition as determinants of cardiometabolic health. A suboptimal diet predisposes to a myriad of cardiometabolic risk factors such as impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. The goal of this Special Issue is to provide rigorous evidence from novel experimental and observational studies that support the association between dietary factors and cardiometabolic risk and evaluate the diverse diet-related risk pathways.

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This book examines how the growing knowledge of the huge range of protist-, animal-, and plant-bacterial interactions, whether in shared ecosystems or intimate symbioses, is fundamentally altering our understanding of biology. The establishment and maintenance of these interactions and their contributions to the health and survival of all partners relies on continuous cell-to-cell communication between them. This dialogue may be concerned with all aspects of the biology of both partners. The book includes chapters devoted to exploring, explaining, and exposing these dialogues across a broad spectrum of plant and animal eukaryotes to a broad field of biologists. Key Features Explores the nature of the interactions between eukaryotic hosts and their microbial symbionts Examines the links between prostist, animal, and plant evolution and microbial communities Reviews specific taxa and the microbial diversity associated with these taxa Illustrates the role microbes play in the physiology and etiology of several model species Includes chapters by an international team of leading scholars

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This book examines how the growing knowledge of the huge range of protist-, animal-, and plant-bacterial interactions, whether in shared ecosystems or intimate symbioses, is fundamentally altering our understanding of biology. The establishment and maintenance of these interactions and their contributions to the health and survival of all partners relies on continuous cell-to-cell communication between them. This dialogue may be concerned with all aspects of the biology of both partners. The book includes chapters devoted to exploring, explaining, and exposing these dialogues across a broad spectrum of plant and animal eukaryotes to a broad field of biologists. Key Features: Explores the nature of the interactions between eukaryotic hosts and their microbial symbionts Examines the links between prostist, animal, and plant evolution and microbial communities Reviews specific taxa and the microbial diversity associated with these taxa Illustrates the role microbes play in the physiology and etiology of several model species Includes chapters by an international team of leading scholars The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as a real-time liquid biopsy approach can be used to obtain new insights into metastasis biology, and as companion diagnostics to improve the stratification of therapies and to obtain insights into the therapy-induced selection of cancer cells. In this book, we will cover all the different facets of CTCs to assemble a huge corpus of knowledge on cancer dissemination: technologies for their enrichment, detection, and characterization; their analysis at the single-cell level; their journey as CTC microemboli; their clinical relevance; their biology with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT); their stem-cell properties; their potential to initiate metastasis at distant sites; their ex vivo expansion; and their escape from the immune system.

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This book collects multidisciplinary research articles focused on Clostridioides difficile infection. The contributions collected here shed some light on grey areas of our knowledge of Clostridioides difficile, including regional Clostridioides difficile phenotypic and genotypic patterns, the Clostridioides difficile infection clinical course and the mortality rate in different settings and patient case-mix, the levels of Clostridioides difficile toxins in patients' sera, and novel, promising therapeutic approaches. This collection serves as a valuable reservoir of knowledge for scientists and researchers in the field of infectious diseases.

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Crohn’s disease (CD) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the intestine and can lead to stricture, fistula, and abscess if left untreated. This book highlights the key aspects of the current state of the art of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy for CD and its unique complications. CD has evolved from clinical observations to a network of advanced therapies and quality of care. Among the pathogenetic factors, a significant proportion of the latest research is focused on the gut microbiome, as rapidly changing environmental factors exert their effects primarily by altering the microbiome. This book highlights the enigmatic crosstalk between the gut microbiome and CD. Going further, CD is a great mimicker that is important to differentiate from other diseases, especially intestinal tuberculosis, which is still a significant problem in tuberculosis-endemic countries. This book addresses this issue as well. Among the diagnostic modalities, capsule endoscopy is a non-invasive, radiation-free, and accurate modality for pan-enteric evaluation. The book examines the role of capsule endoscopy in suspected and established CD, including its pros and cons in these scenarios. It also highlights technical advancements in the field. Among the complications of CD, the most dreaded is fistula. Apart from traditional medical and surgical therapies, interventional inflammatory bowel disease (IIBD) therapies like endoscopic fistulotomy and abscess drainage can decrease surgical morbidity and improve patient outcomes. The book reviews the current role and details of such therapies. Overall, this book provides insights into current advances in CD pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.

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Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial-like endometrial cells, glands, and stroma outside the uterus, causing a wide range of symptoms and signs, including acute and chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, and up to 50% of infertile women. The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis still remains controversial: immune, hormonal, genetic, and epigenetic factors may be all involved, and several theories have been proposed to explain it.One of the main problems for the management of endometriosis is the significant diagnostic delay: to date, several biomarkers are currently being tested in order to provide a reliable non-invasive diagnosis in case of symptoms and signs suspicious for endometriosis.In addition, ultrasound techniques and magnetic resonance imaging are evolving rapidly, allowing for better accuracy, even with the use of artificial intelligence. Finally, new potential histological makers are helping to correlate the occurrence of endometriosis in different anatomical landmarks, supporting specific pathways to clarify the etiology of the disease.

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Supporting initiation, development and resolution of appropriate immune responses is key to survival. Many nutrients and dietary components have been purported to have a role in supporting optimal immune function. This is vital throughout the life course, from the development and programming of the immune system in early life, to supporting immunity and reducing chronic inflammation in older people. In this special issue of Nutrients, we examine the evidence for the role of diet and dietary components in promoting protective immunity.

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Diet plays a fundamental role in shaping the composition and metabolic activity of the gut microbiota and, thus, it could determine the interrelationship between the gut microbiome and the host. The colon is the part of the human body that is most densely populated, containing bacteria, archaea, viruses, and some unicellular eukaryotes that have co-evolved with humans in a commensal way. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the maintenance of normal host physiology. The rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods for DNA sequencing in the last decade has facilitated in-depth study of gut microbiome composition and function. These methods have contributed to providing evidence regarding the relevance of the intestinal microbiota for host health as well as the basis for putative dietary interventions aimed at counteracting microbiota dysbiosis. Understanding the complex and dynamic interaction between dietary exposures and gut microbiota can help to elucidate their potential role in different pathologies and to guide future strategies for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Age-related changes in the gut microbiome are also associated with physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract as well as in dietary patterns, with a concomitant decline in the normal function of the immune system that may contribute to increased risk of infection and frailty. More studies are needed to better understand how the microbiota shifts with different environmental factors and how they are associated with dietary changes.

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