Food allergy immunology and inflammation: microbiome-derived molecules and molecular mechanisms

Food allergy is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of increasing global prevalence and a major source of clinical and societal burden. Its development results from a complex interplay among genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and impaired immune regulation. Central to its pathogenesis is the breakdown of immune tolerance to food antigens, leading to inflammatory responses that drive allergic sensitization and clinical reactivity. In recent years, the gut microbiome has emerged as a key regulator of these processes. Microbiome-derived molecules, including metabolites, cell wall components, and other microbial products, actively shape mucosal and systemic immunity by modulating epithelial integrity, innate immune activation, adaptive immune polarization, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Although growing evidence supports an important role for the microbiome in food allergy, the molecular mechanisms by which microbial signals contribute to immune dysregulation and allergic inflammation remain incompletely understood. Defining these pathways is essential to advance our understanding of food allergy immunopathogenesis and to identify new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic opportunities.This Research Topic aims to address current gaps in the immunological and molecular understanding of food allergy, with a particular focus on microbiome-derived molecules as regulators of immune tolerance and inflammation. We welcome contributions spanning basic, translational, and clinical research that clarify how microbial signals interact with epithelial and immune pathways to maintain tolerance or promote allergic sensitization and inflammation. Particular emphasis will be placed on mechanistic studies that move beyond descriptive associations to identify the key immune cells, inflammatory mediators, signaling pathways, and host–microbe interactions involved in disease initiation, progression, and resolution. Ultimately, this collection aims to foster a more integrated understanding of food allergy immunology, supporting the identification of novel biomarkers, preventive strategies, and therapeutic targets that may contribute to personalized approaches in the management of food allergy.This Research Topic welcomes contributions addressing the immunological, molecular, and cellular mechanisms involved in food allergy, particularly in the context of microbiome-driven immune modulation and inflammation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:o Microbiome-derived metabolites, structural components, and immunomodulatory molecules.o Mechanisms regulating immune tolerance and allergic sensitization.o Epithelial barrier dysfunction and mucosal inflammation.o Innate and adaptive immune responses in food allergy.o Cytokine networks, inflammatory mediators, and intracellular signaling pathways.o Host–microbe molecular crosstalk in allergic inflammation.o Immunological mechanisms underlying microbiome-targeted therapeutic strategies.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspective articles spanning basic, translational, and clinical research. Studies employing in vitro systems, animal models, and human cohorts are encouraged, provided they offer clear mechanistic insight. Interdisciplinary contributions integrating immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, and clinical investigation are particularly encouraged, provided that their primary focus remains on immunology. Topic editors: Marina Pérez-Gordo, Cristobalina Mayorga, Masako Toda Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79468/food-allergy-immunology-and-inflammation-microbiome-derived-molecules-and-molecular-mechanisms