Epigenetics, Microbiota, and Food—Shaping Immune Health and Longevity
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 November 2025 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editor
Interests: microbial ecology; food microbiology; nutrition; epigenetic; diabetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The goal in longevity research is to increase the healthy years of living. Adequate nutrition is essential for this, and it impacts us even before we are born. Moreover, before birth and during the first years of newborns, contact with various bacteria strains can have a profound impact on a child’s microbiota. It is well known that the diets of parents and even grandparents leave an epigenetic imprint on the offspring, which can have long-lasting effects on health.
As low-grade inflammation is a major factor associated with most age-related diseases, an adequate diet can counteract and even favor longevity. Many food compounds, including epigenetic active plant ingredients such as curcumin, have a direct influence on the microbiota and epigenetic mechanisms. Whereas poor nutrition and nutrient deficiency have harmful effects on immune function, some specific food compounds exhibit important functions as modulators of health.
Through understanding the epigenetic mechanisms of interactions between nutrients, aging, and health, disease prevention approaches could be optimized.
In this Special Issue of Life, we encourage researchers to explore the role of diet, particularly relevant components shaping immune health and longevity, in modulating microRNA expression and epigenetics. We look forward to receiving your contributions to this vital area of research.
Dr. Berit Hippe
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- epigenetics
- nutrigenomics
- aging
- microRNA
- DNA methylation
- diet
- nutrients
- microbiota
- longevity
- natural components
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
