In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the power of using multi-omics molecular profiling to reveal changes in the gut microbiome and serum biochemistry following exposure to chemical pollutants that would otherwise be missed using more standard, less comprehensive analytical methods. Employing this approach allowed us to identify glyphosate effects on the rat gut microbiota, namely a marked increase in shikimate and 3-dehydroshikimate reflective of inhibition of EPSPS of the shikimate pathway. In addition, we found higher levels of γ-glutamylglutamineγ-glutamylglutamine, cysteinylglycine, and valylglycine, suggestive of a response to oxidative stress. Furthermore, serum metabolomics showed that treatment with glyphosate and MON 52276 was associated with altered levels of nicotinamide, branched-chain amino acid, methionine, cysteine, and taurine metabolism, which is also indicative of a response to oxidative stress. Although more studies are needed to understand the health implications of glyphosate inhibition of the shikimate pathway and other metabolic disturbances in the gut microbiome and serum, our findings could be used in the development of biomarkers for epidemiological studies and to understand if glyphosate can have biological effects in human populations. CLICK TO REVIEW