Integrative Modeling of Microbial Physiology: From Metabolic Kinetics to Population and Evolutionary Dynamics

The field of microbial physiology is undergoing a major transformation as quantitative and computational tools become essential for connecting cellular metabolism with population-level behavior and evolutionary adaptation. Traditionally, studies of microbial kinetics and physiology have focused on characterizing enzymatic reactions, energy fluxes, and growth yields under specific conditions. However, these metabolic traits do not operate in isolation, they are shaped by complex interactions among cells, the environment, and evolutionary pressures. Despite major advances in omics technologies and metabolic modeling frameworks, few studies have fully bridged the scales linking intracellular thermodynamics, population dynamics, and long-term evolutionary stability. A more integrative approach is needed to understand how microbial systems organize, adapt, and evolve under fluctuating conditions.This Research Topic aims to bring together interdisciplinary contributions that merge metabolic, population, and evolutionary modeling to provide an integrated understanding of microbial physiology. The goal is to identify the quantitative principles and dynamic feedbacks that govern microbial growth, competition, and adaptation across scales, from molecules to communities. We seek studies that combine kinetic, thermodynamic, and evolutionary frameworks, develop predictive models of microbial function, or use mathematical population models to explain emergent properties of microbial systems. This Topic will encourage collaboration between computational biologists, physiologists, and evolutionary modelers to advance a unified theory of microbial behavior and adaptation.To gather further insights into integrative microbial modeling, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Multiscale modeling frameworks linking metabolic reactions to microbial growth and community dynamics.• Thermodynamic and kinetic modeling approaches for microbial energy balance and resource allocation.• Evolutionary modeling of microbial adaptation, metabolic trade-offs, and fitness landscapes.• Quantitative models of population structure, competition, and cooperation in microbial systems.• Systems biology and data-driven insights connecting intracellular metabolism with ecosystem-level responses.• Experimental validation and computational simulations integrating metabolism, physiology, and evolution.• Applications of integrative modeling for biotechnological optimization, bioprocess design, and microbial ecology.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and Perspectives that advance understanding of microbial physiology across metabolic, population, and evolutionary dimensions. Topic editors: Shiri Freilich, Hugo Fort, ALBERTO SCHIRALDI Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85417/integrative-modeling-of-microbial-physiology-from-metabolic-kinetics-to-population-and-evolutionary-dynamics