Aging-Driven Immune Perturbations and Urobiota-Mediated Homeostasis in the Urinary Tract

The urinary tract is increasingly recognized as a dynamic immunological and microbial ecosystem, where host defenses and resident microbial communities work in concert to maintain tissue homeostasis. Rather than being sterile, the urinary tract harbors a diverse and structured microbiota (urobiota) that contributes to immune regulation, barrier integrity, and resistance to pathogen colonization. In addition, emerging evidence points to a functional connection between the intestinal microbiota and the urobiota, whereby systemic immune signaling, metabolic byproducts, and potential microbial exchange along a gut–urinary axis may influence urinary tract homeostasis. While the gut microbiota is a central regulator of systemic immunity, the urobiota represents a distinct niche with unique ecological and functional features, highlighting both the differences and interdependence of these microbial ecosystems. With advancing age, this finely tuned balance becomes increasingly vulnerable to disruption. Aging is associated with immunosenescence, chronic low-grade inflammation, and diminished mucosal barrier function, alongside hormonal and metabolic changes that further influence tissue resilience. Together, these processes can alter local immune surveillance and responsiveness, impair antimicrobial defenses, and create a permissive environment for microbial imbalance. As a result, the composition, diversity, and functional capacity of the urobiota—and its interaction with the gut microbiota—may be reshaped, with important consequences for susceptibility to infection, persistence of chronic inflammation, and the development of urinary tract dysfunction.This Research Topic aims to explore how aging-driven immune perturbations intersect with urobiota-mediated regulatory mechanisms to influence urinary tract health. We welcome studies that investigate age-related alterations in the urobiota, including shifts in microbial diversity, stability, and functional outputs, as well as research into host–microbe interactions within the urinary niche. Of particular interest are the molecular and cellular pathways linking immune aging to microbial dysbiosis, including changes in epithelial signaling, innate and adaptive immune responses, and microbial metabolite production. We also encourage work that examines whether microbial community shifts exacerbate immune decline or, conversely, act as compensatory mechanisms that help maintain homeostasis in the aging urinary tract. Studies exploring the interplay between gut and urinary microbiomes in aging, and how this axis contributes to systemic and local immune regulation, are particularly encouraged. Comparative perspectives addressing differences across sexes, comorbidities, and clinical conditions—such as recurrent urinary tract infections, incontinence, or catheter-associated complications—are especially valuable.We further encourage submissions addressing translational and therapeutic perspectives, including microbiome-based interventions, immunomodulatory strategies, and approaches aimed at restoring or preserving urinary tract homeostasis in older populations. This may include the development of targeted probiotics, microbial or metabolite-based diagnostics, and precision medicine approaches tailored to age-associated changes in immunity and microbiota composition. By integrating basic, clinical, and computational research, this collection seeks to provide a comprehensive and mechanistic view of the aging urinary ecosystem, identify key host–microbe pathways driving disease risk or resilience, and uncover novel targets for improving health outcomes in an increasingly aging global population. Topic editors: Mrinal Samtiya Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79830/aging-driven-immune-perturbations-and-urobiota-mediated-homeostasis-in-the-urinary-tract