Innovative methodologies and emerging technologies in bacterial immunology and antimicrobial resistance research

Recent advances in single-cell biology, spatial transcriptomics, multi-omics integration, artificial intelligence, and biosensor engineering are fundamentally reshaping how bacterial infections are studied. These technologies now enable researchers to resolve host immune responses at single-cell resolution, map pathogen–host dynamics within intact tissue, predict antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from genomic data, and deploy rapid diagnostics across clinical, veterinary, food, and environmental settings. Despite this rapid expansion, methodological innovation in bacterial immunology remains fragmented across disciplines, with limited cross-sector exchange between fundamental discovery, translational application, and public health surveillance. There is a clear need to consolidate these advances within a unified framework—one that places technological and methodological innovation at the center of progress in bacterial immunology and host–microbe research.This Research Topic aims to consolidate and showcase methodological and technological innovations that advance our understanding of bacterial immunology, host–microbe interactions, and AMR. Rather than focusing on specific pathogens or disease outcomes in isolation, we seek contributions where the approach itself—the method, tool, model, or analytical framework—is central to the work.We welcome studies that apply or develop novel experimental models, immune profiling platforms, multi-omics strategies, computational and AI-enabled pipelines, and advanced diagnostic or surveillance tools in the context of bacterial infection and immunity. A core objective is to bridge fundamental discovery with translational application, demonstrating how emerging technologies can connect immune mechanisms with pathogen detection, AMR monitoring, and intervention strategies. By bringing together methodological contributions spanning foodborne, zoonotic, clinical, and environmental bacterial systems, this collection aims to build a more integrated technological toolkit for the field within a One Health framework.We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles centered on innovative approaches in bacterial immunology and related fields. Manuscripts should clearly articulate the methodological contribution—how a technology, tool, model, or analytical strategy advances the study of bacterial infection, immunity, or AMR.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Single-cell and spatial omics approaches to dissecting host–microbe interactions and immune responses• Multi-omics integration (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) applied to bacterial infection and pathogenesis• Machine learning, AI, and computational frameworks for immune profiling, AMR prediction, and epidemiological modeling• Novel experimental models (organoids, ex vivo systems, humanized animal models) of bacterial infection and immunity• Advanced biosensing, diagnostic, and detection platforms for bacterial pathogens• Genomic epidemiology tools and bioinformatics pipelines for AMR surveillance and outbreak investigation• Immune profiling strategies for characterizing innate and adaptive responses to bacterial infection• Translational methodological approaches linking immune mechanisms to therapeutic development or public health intervention• One Health technological frameworks spanning human, animal, food, and environmental settingsSubmissions involving any foodborne, zoonotic, clinical, or environmentally relevant bacterial pathogen are within scope, provided the methodological or technological contribution is clearly central to the work.Please note that Dr. Jinge Huang is working for IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group and Dr. Lijun (Phoebe) Hu is a Research Microbiologist and Regulatory Scientist at the US FDA. Topic editors: Lijun (Phoebe) Hu, Martin James Holland, Yeshi Yin, Zachary Ende Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81956/innovative-methodologies-and-emerging-technologies-in-bacterial-immunology-and-antimicrobial-resistance-research