Immunomodulatory approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR): One Health and the antibiotic crisis

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious worldwide threat that makes traditional antibiotics less effective against infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This crisis has been exacerbated by the overuse and abuse of antibiotics in human medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry, which has resulted in increased mortality, prolonged illness, and higher healthcare costs. A paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches is required because traditional drug discovery pipelines are unable to keep up with the emergence of resistant pathogens. This has spurred interest in host-directed therapies, particularly immunomodulation. These strategies seek to prevent infections, treat existing ones more successfully, and lessen the selective pressure causing AMR by improving or fine-tuning the host's innate and adaptive immune responses. Developing long-term, comprehensive solutions to the antibiotic crisis requires a "One Health" perspective, which acknowledges the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health.The primary goal of this Research Topic is to consolidate and advance knowledge on innovative immunomodulatory strategies as a cornerstone for combating AMR. We aim to move beyond the traditional model by focusing on strengthening the host's defense systems. By investigating how immune checkpoint modulation, phagocytic activity enhancement, or the promotion of particular antimicrobial immune pathways can eradicate infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, this collection aims to address the issue of declining antibiotic efficacy. We will focus on recent progress, such as the repurposing of immunotherapeutics, the creation of new vaccine platforms for resistant strains, and the use of immunostimulants as antibiotic adjuvants. This topic seeks to stimulate the advancement of next-generation, resistance-proof therapeutic frameworks by promoting interdisciplinary research that integrates immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, and One Health. Ultimately, we aspire to contribute to a sustainable arsenal of interventions that reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics and mitigate the global AMR crisis.Contributions that examine novel immunomodulation as a key tactic against AMR within a One Health framework are welcome for this research topic. We seek to compile cutting-edge research and reviews addressing the following specific themes:• Discovery and mechanistic insights into new biologics (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, engineered peptides), small molecules, and natural compounds (e.g., phytochemicals) that modulate host immunity to directly combat AMR pathogens.• Techniques to prevent or treat infections brought on by resistant bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites by inducing or enhancing protective innate (trained immunity) and adaptive immune responses, including innovative vaccine platforms.• The creation of immunostimulants that increase the activity of currently available antibiotics, restoring their effectiveness against resistant strains, lowering dosage requirements, and shortening treatment times.• Immunomodulatory techniques are used to break up biofilms and eliminate intracellular pathogens, which are important sources of recurrent and persistent resistant infections.• Studies on immunomodulation in livestock and companion animals to reduce antibiotic use, its impact on the environmental resistome, and implications for human public health.• Discussions on the challenges of moving immunomodulatory therapies from bench to bedside, including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models, identification of predictive biomarkers for patient stratification, and critical assessment of therapeutic safety profiles.We welcome original research, reviews, and methodological papers that advance these themes and bridge fundamental immunology with clinical and translational applications. Topic editors: Thiruvenkadan Aranganoor Kannan, Sunday O Peters, Abdulmojeed Yakubu, Shanmuga Nagarajan, Jerry William Simecka, Zhanbo Zhu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77567/immunomodulatory-approaches-to-combat-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-one-health-and-the-antibiotic-crisis