The gut harbors lots of microbes that were termed gut microbiota (GM), including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research in recent decades showed that GM composition is closely related to the host’s health. GM, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria were proven to interrupt the progression of the disease, for instance, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular, hypertension, and cancers. Whereas, Fusobacterium and Helicobacterium were proven to associate with the development of gut inflammation and colorectal cancer. Accumulating studies showed that herbal medicines from different ethnicities, including formula, total extract, and compounds, possess impressive effects on the regulation of GM composition and can bring many benefits to the host. This evidence reveals the close relationship between GM, medicines, and host health. Many studies focused on the beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, to discuss the effects of their growth, metabolites, and mechanisms for the host can be easily found in the associated scientific reports. However, the roles of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of different diseases were less given attention when compared to the beneficial bacteria. Here, we think that giving more attention to the pathogens will provide us with more evidence to comprehensively recognize the development of the diseases, especially gut-related diseases. Moreover, the discovery and discussion of the strategies to control the abundance of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract also will give us more methods to interrupt the progression of the disease. In this research topic, we encourage colleagues to submit the associated research to discuss the roles of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of diseases, especially gut-related diseases. Additionally, the research about the inhibition of the growth of pathogens using herbal medicines (excludes compounds) is also included in this research topic. • The roles of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of the diseases, especially gut-related diseases.• The impacts of the change of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens on the gut microenvironment.• The discovery of herbal medicines in controlling the growth of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens.• The mechanism of the medicines to treat gut-related diseases by manipulating GM composition
The gut harbors lots of microbes that were termed gut microbiota (GM), including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research in recent decades showed that GM composition is closely related to the host’s health. GM, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria were proven to interrupt the progression of the disease, for instance, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular, hypertension, and cancers. Whereas, Fusobacterium and Helicobacterium were proven to associate with the development of gut inflammation and colorectal cancer. Accumulating studies showed that herbal medicines from different ethnicities, including formula, total extract, and compounds, possess impressive effects on the regulation of GM composition and can bring many benefits to the host. This evidence reveals the close relationship between GM, medicines, and host health. Many studies focused on the beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, to discuss the effects of their growth, metabolites, and mechanisms for the host can be easily found in the associated scientific reports. However, the roles of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of different diseases were less given attention when compared to the beneficial bacteria. Here, we think that giving more attention to the pathogens will provide us with more evidence to comprehensively recognize the development of the diseases, especially gut-related diseases. Moreover, the discovery and discussion of the strategies to control the abundance of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract also will give us more methods to interrupt the progression of the disease. In this research topic, we encourage colleagues to submit the associated research to discuss the roles of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of diseases, especially gut-related diseases. Additionally, the research about the inhibition of the growth of pathogens using herbal medicines (excludes compounds) is also included in this research topic. • The roles of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens in the genesis and development of the diseases, especially gut-related diseases.• The impacts of the change of the pathogens and opportunistic pathogens on the gut microenvironment.• The discovery of herbal medicines in controlling the growth of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens.• The mechanism of the medicines to treat gut-related diseases by manipulating GM composition