In this issue, the authors reported the relationships of the trace elements, i.e. iron, zinc, selenium, copper, etc. and the intestinal flora, and reported their new functions, i.e. regulation of intestinal health and immune defense, of this trace elements, and therefore improve the performance of livestock and poultry in advance. The novel ionomic method is also used in the study of trace element nutrition in animals. The gut microbiota are found to bridge the trace element homeostasis and host health in pigs, chickens and mice. As shown in the cover image, the designer chose an electron microscope image of the pig intestine (background), and trace elements (blue) and intestinal flora (others), which enable the man to reach and understand the scene of interaction of trace elements with intestinal flora and host in intestine in animals.

In this issue, the authors reported the relationships of the trace elements, i.e. iron, zinc, selenium, copper, etc. and the intestinal flora, and reported their new functions, i.e. regulation of intestinal health and immune defense, of this trace elements, and therefore improve the performance of livestock and poultry in advance. The novel ionomic method is also used in the study of trace element nutrition in animals. The gut microbiota are found to bridge the trace element homeostasis and host health in pigs, chickens and mice. As shown in the cover image, the designer chose an electron microscope image of the pig intestine (background), and trace elements (blue) and intestinal flora (others), which enable the man to reach and understand the scene of interaction of trace elements with intestinal flora and host in intestine in animals.