World Microbiome Day 2026: Exploring the Chemistry of the Microbiome

The microorganisms that inhabit our bodies and environments, together known as the microbiome, play a critical role in human health, agriculture, and ecosystems worldwide. On World Microbiome Day, researchers across disciplines highlight how advances in research are deepening our understanding of microbial systems and their long-lasting impact on society.

To mark this year’s World Microbiome Day, ACS Publications is partnering with the ACS Webinars team to host a free webinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (11:00am to 12:30pm ET). This event will feature leading researchers working at the forefront of microbiome research:

• Prof. Jie Li at The University of Texas at Austin, will discuss how microbiome-derived metabolites influence host health and can be leveraged for new therapeutic discovery.
• Prof. Neha Garg at the Georgia Institute of Technology will explore molecular interactions at the host–microbiome–drug interface, focusing on how antibiotics reshape microbial chemistry and communication.
• Prof. Krystle J. McLaughlin at Vassar College will present work on novel proteins in gut microbes, highlighting their structure, function, and potential as therapeutic targets.
• The webinar is moderated by Prof. Pamela Chang from Cornell University.

Register now for the free webinar to gain an understanding of how microbiome-derived molecules and microbial proteins influence host health, disease, and drug interactions, while highlighting emerging strategies to uncover novel therapeutic targets at the human–microbe interface.

In conjunction with this timely webinar, ACS Publications has curated a collection of recent, high-impact research articles covering a wide range of topics, including:

• Microbiome–host interactions and immune modulation across health and disease
• Microbial metabolism and small‑molecule signaling, including natural products and bioactive metabolites
• Microbiome‑informed drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, including therapeutic targeting and efficacy modulation
• Chemical biology approaches for probing microbiome function and mechanistic pathways
• Microbiome impacts on nutrition, food chemistry, and agricultural systems
• Environmental influences on microbiome composition and function, spanning air, water, and soil systems
• Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering of microbial systems for health and sustainability applications
• Advanced analytical, omics, and imaging technologies for microbiome characterization
• Microbiome‑enabled biomaterials, nanotechnology, and delivery platforms

We invite readers to explore this collection to discover how cutting‑edge research is advancing our understanding of the microbiome.

Explore Recent Microbiome Research from ACS Journals

From Molecules to Metabolomes, Understanding Symbiosis through Small Molecules

Plant Coumarins Modulate Natural Product Biosynthesis in a Streptomyces Root Endophyte

Dynamics of the Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistome in Hyper-Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure Assisted with Granular Activated Carbon

Therapeutic Application of Postbiotics in the Management of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Spirocyclic Adduct Formation of Tryptanthrin with Indole Monoamines under Biomimetic Acidic Conditions

Chemical Proteomics Reveals Regulation of Bile Salt Hydrolases via Oxidative Post-translational Modifications

Serotonin 5-HT_2C Receptor Signaling Analysis Reveals Psychedelic Biased Agonism

Multiomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Pathways Associated with Intestinal Aggregation of α-Synuclein

Toxic Effects of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Intestines

Machine Learning in Microbiome Research and Engineering

A GH42 β-Galactosidase from the Human Isolate Bifidobacterium breve DSM 20213: Biochemical and Transgalactosylation Properties Reveal the Potential for Galacto-oligosaccharides Synthesis

Microbiome-Mediated Physiological Mechanisms for Improving Soil Health and Crop Salt Tolerance

Mutanobactin D from the Human Microbiome: Chemistry, Biology, and Molecular Dynamics Studies

The Role of the Microbiome in the Resolution of Infection-Induced Inflammation

Thiazole-Based Tumor Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibitors: A Paradigm-Shifting Therapeutic Strategy Targeting Metabolic and Microbial Synergy in Colorectal Cancer

Phylogenomic Identification of a Highly Conserved Copper-Binding RiPP Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Marine Microbulbifer Bacteria

Metagenomic and Mineral Content Associations in the Gut of Bos indicus

Biodegradation of β-Sheet Crystal-Rich Silk Fibroin Bioplastic Promoted by Functionally Active Soil Microbiome

Inorganic Polyphosphate Relieves Ulcerative Colitis by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

Antioxidant-Targeting Synergistic Probiotic Delivery System with Improved Probiotics Viability and Intestinal Retention for Ulcerative Colitis Therapy

Lactose-Derived Glucolacto-Oligosaccharides Increase Specific Beneficial Bacteria in the Human Gut Microbiome

Controlled Release of Microorganisms from Engineered Living Materials

Microbiota-Mediated Modulation of Chemotherapeutic Drug Efficacy in Colorectal Cancer: An In-Depth Analysis of Six Key Drugs

Novel Small-Molecule miR-124 Inducer Acts as “a Physiological Brake” of Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis by Targeting the PIK3R2/PI3K/Akt Axis

Advances in Rhizosphere Microbiome and Rhizosphere Immunity Effect: A Review

Human Milk Oligosaccharides Mediate the Host–Microbe Interface in a Model Vaginal Community

Synthetic Mucins as Glycan-Defined Prebiotics

Evaluation of Probiotic Growth in Microenvironments Sculpted with Different Geometries

Effects of Prebiotics and a Synthetic Microbiome Consortium on the Composition and Metabolites of the Elderly Gut Microbiota In Vitro

Lead Informed Artificial Intelligence Mining of Antitubercular Host Defense Peptides

Synthesis, Microbiology, and Biophysical Characterization of Mutanofactins from the Human Oral Microbiome

Deconjugation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Sulfates to Hydroxylated PCBs by Anaerobically Cultured Mouse and Human Gut Microbiota

Ginsenosides as Functional Foods: A Novel Approach for Regulating Gut Microbiota

Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) Hydrogels as Synthetic Matrices for Multicellular Spheroid and Intestinal Organoid Cultures

Visualization of the Biogenesis, Dynamics, and Host Interactions of Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles

Discovery of Peptidic Siderophore Degradation by Screening Natural Product Profiles in Marine-Derived Bacterial Mono- and Cocultures

Metagenomics Disentangles Differential Resistome Traits and Risks in Full-Scale Anaerobic Digestion Plants under Ambient, Mesophilic, and Thermophilic Conditions

Antibiotic and Non-Antibiotic Determinants of Antimicrobial Resistance: Insights from Water Ecosystems

Microbial Metabolomics’ Latest SICRIT: Soft Ionization by Chemical Reaction In-Transfer Mass Spectrometry

Ecology of Airborne Microorganisms: Understanding the Impact of Haze and Sandstorms on Bacterial Community Structure and Pathogenicity

Rhizosphere Bacteria Help to Compensate for Pesticide-Induced Stress in Plants

Pesticides and the Gut Microbiota: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease

Assessing the Relative Concentration Efficiency and Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Plasmid pBI143 in Raw Wastewater

Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host–Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms

Microbiome-Derived Lipid Nanoparticles for Improved Immunogenicity of mRNA Vaccines

Capturing the Aerobiome: Application of Polyurethane Foam Disk Passive Samplers for Bioaerosol Monitoring

Not the Silver Bullet: Uncovering the Unexpected Limited Impacts of Silver-Containing Showerheads on the Drinking Water Microbiome

Sourdough as a Model Organism for Facilitating Undergraduate Biochemistry and Biology Education

Commonly Used Engineered Nanomaterials Improve Soil Health via Suppressing Soil-Borne Fusarium and Positively Altering Soil Microbiome