Immunomodulants and probiotic in Infectious Diseases: From Bench to Bedside

Immunomodulatory agents—including defined synthetic compounds, biologics, and selected probiotics/live biotherapeutic approaches—are increasingly being explored as adjuncts to anti-infective care across respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and viral diseases such as COVID-19 and HIV. By shaping innate and adaptive immune responses, these interventions may enhance mucosal defense, rebalance inflammatory pathways, and reduce the risk of recurrent infections. In turn, they may support antimicrobial stewardship by decreasing unnecessary antibiotic exposure, improving clinical recovery, and helping to prevent avoidable hospitalization.This Research Topic, hosted in Adaptive and Innate Immunity in Infection, places particular emphasis on the translational potential of immunomodulatory strategies and on bridging discoveries at the bench with meaningful applications at the bedside. We welcome both mechanistic and translational studies that clarify how immunomodulators function in infectious disease settings, as well as clinical studies evaluating their efficacy, safety, and therapeutic value. We particularly encourage submissions that connect cellular and molecular mechanisms to clinically relevant outcomes, address heterogeneity across pathogens and host populations, and strengthen the evidence base for dosing, strain/compound specificity, safety, and integration with modern antiviral and immunotherapy strategies in the post-pandemic era.We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:-Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immunomodulation during infection (e.g., TLR/NLR pathways, inflammasomes, trained immunity)-Effects on innate effector functions (e.g., NK cells, monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils) and antigen-presenting cell programming-Crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity (e.g., T cell polarization, B cell responses, mucosal IgA)-Pathogen- and syndrome-specific efficacy in respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, acute and chronic viral infections, and recurrent infections-Clinical studies assessing the efficacy of immunomodulators and probiotics in infectious diseases, including their impact on symptom burden, recurrence, hospitalization, and other clinically meaningful endpoints-Immunomodulators as adjuncts to antimicrobials and their impact on antimicrobial stewardship outcomes-Comparative effectiveness versus standard-of-care therapies and additive/synergistic effects in combination regimens-Biomarkers and immune signatures that predict responders, non-responders, and adverse immunophenotypes-Optimal dosing, timing, formulation, and—where relevant—strain specificity and manufacturing/quality considerations-Safety, tolerability, and risk mitigation in vulnerable populations (immunocompromised patients, elderly patients, individuals with comorbidities, and pregnancy where applicable)-Integration with antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and other immunotherapies in post-pandemic infectious disease management Topic editors: Claudio UCCIFERRI, Matteo Candeloro Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79692/immunomodulants-and-probiotic-in-infectious-diseases-from-bench-to-bedside