The human gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining health and modulating disease processes. Its composition evolves across the lifespan under the influence of diet, lifestyle, aging, and environmental exposures. Disruption of gut microbial balance—known as dysbiosis—has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various chronic conditions, including autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and inflammatory diseases.

This Collection welcomes submissions that explore the mechanistic, clinical, and translational aspects of gut microbiota in human health, with particular interest in:

The gut–brain, gut–heart, gut–cancer, and gut–joint axes

Gut dysbiosis and its immunological and metabolic consequences

Microbial metabolites and host-microbiome interactions

Microbiome-based diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, and biomarkers

We invite contributions including but not limited to:

Original research articles based on clinical, in vivo or in vitro studies

Reviews summarizing recent advances or proposing new frameworks

Perspective or opinion pieces that highlight emerging concepts or challenges

This Collection aims to enhance our understanding of the gut microbiome's contribution to health and disease and to inspire microbiome-based strategies for improving human well-being.

Keywords: Gut microbiome; Gut-organ-axis; chronic diseases; 16S rRNA; metagenomics

The global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is alarming, with profound gender and ethnic disparities. Women are more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated, while ethnic minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, and those in underserved communities, bear a disproportionate burden of CVD. Socioeconomic factors, inadequate healthcare access, and cultural barriers exacerbate these disparities. These disparities are not only a reflection of biological differences but also encompass a complex interplay of social determinants, healthcare access, and cultural factors. Understanding these dimensions is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating cardiovascular health inequalities. To bridge these gaps, rigorous research, robust data collection, and effective dissemination of findings are imperative in identifying these drivers.

This Collection will provide a platform for experts to share their research, insights, and solutions to address these pressing issues. We believe this Collection will contribute significantly to the ongoing conversation on health disparities and inform strategies to reduce the burden of CVD. We invite researchers and scientists to submit their original work to our Collection focused on gender and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health and diseases. This Collection will contribute significantly to our understanding of the complex relationships between gender, ethnicity, and cardiovascular health outcomes and provide valuable insights into the drivers of these disparities and inform strategies for improvement.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

- Gender differences in cardiovascular disease prevalence

- Ethnic disparities in treatment outcomes

- Sociocultural influences on cardiovascular health

- Impact of social determinants on heart disease risk

- Community-based interventions for at-risk populations

Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease Disparities, Gender and Ethnic Disparities in Health, Healthcare Access and Outcomes, Cardiovascular Health Equity, Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.