Bridging the gap: Next-generation bacterial and fungal models for biofilm biology

Biofilm research sits at the intersection of microbiology, infectious diseases, and biotechnology, addressing the complex multicellular communities that contribute to persistent infections, therapeutic failure, and major industrial and environmental challenges. Although substantial progress has been made in uncovering fundamental principles of biofilm development and persistence, the field still relies heavily on a limited repertoire of laboratory strains and oversimplified experimental platforms. These conventional models often fail to capture the remarkable diversity, structural complexity, and adaptive capacities of biofilms in clinical, environmental, and industrial settings.Growing evidence highlights substantial heterogeneity in biofilm behaviors across species, strains, and ecological or host-associated niches. This diversity exposes critical limitations in current methodologies and underscores the need for models that more accurately reflect biologically and clinically relevant biofilm conditions. Comparative studies have increasingly revealed discrepancies between laboratory observations and in situ biofilm phenotypes, particularly among emerging or multidrug-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens. Collectively, these gaps have hindered translational progress and limited our ability to predict or modulate biofilm responses in real-world contexts.This Research Topic aims to stimulate the development, refinement, and implementation of innovative bacterial and fungal model systems designed specifically for biofilm research. A central goal is to bridge the translational divide by elucidating strain- and species-specific biofilm traits and mapping biofilm susceptibility or tolerance patterns across different platforms. Ultimately, this Research Topic seeks to lay the foundation for standardized, reproducible, and clinically meaningful model systems that can accelerate discovery and therapeutic innovation.We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following themes:• Design, validation, and optimization of advanced in vitro biofilm models (e.g., microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, 3D bioprinting, high-throughput and automated platforms).• Development and application of ex vivo and in vivo approaches that mimic host tissues, medical devices, or environmental and industrial habitats.• Characterization of strain- and species-specific biofilm phenotypes, including architecture, extracellular matrix composition, and functional or omics-level insights.• Polymicrobial and cross-kingdom biofilm models, with emphasis on inter-species and inter-kingdom interactions.• Evaluation of antibiofilm agents, combination therapies, and non-traditional interventions (physical, biological, nanoengineered, or immune-based) using advanced model systems.• Host–biofilm interaction studies, including immune evasion, inflammatory responses, and mechanisms of persistence or tolerance.• Standardization, benchmarking, and reproducibility efforts to harmonize biofilm model methodologies for translational impact. Topic editors: MARIA GABRIELA PARAJE, António Machado, Luís D. R. Melo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76597/bridging-the-gap-next-generation-bacterial-and-fungal-models-for-biofilm-biology