Multi-scale analytical approaches to decipher microbial physiology and metabolic rewiring in response to environmental and therapeutic stressors

Modern microbial physiology and metabolism research is redefining our understanding of how microbial communities and individual strains adapt, survive, and function within diverse and fluctuating environments. While the traditional focus of microbiological studies often centered on taxonomic identification and pathogen characterization, recent advances in high-resolution analytical technologies—such as mass spectrometry, microfluidics, and fluorescence microscopy—have unveiled intricate details of microbial structure, regulatory networks, and dynamic metabolism. These insights shed light on how microorganisms respond not only to host-associated therapeutic interventions but also to a broader array of environmental factors, including nutrient shifts, pollutants, and physical stressors. Despite these advances, significant gaps persist in connecting molecular-scale changes to physiological outcomes and ecosystem function, especially regarding microbial responses to environmental pressures and their roles in global health, industry, and sustainability. The latest research calls for integrative, systems-level approaches capable of merging deep molecular profiling with functional and ecological context, an area where microbiology intersects directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).GoalThis Research Topic aims to showcase innovative studies that illuminate the mechanisms of microbial metabolic and physiological adaptation in response to environmental and therapeutic challenges, transcending traditional host-centric or purely clinical frameworks. By prioritizing research that deciphers how metabolic rewiring, regulatory processes, and physiological plasticity drive microbial community structure, function, and resilience, this topic seeks to advance our molecular-to-systems-level understanding of microbes. Key objectives include unravelling the interplay between microbial metabolism and environmental stressors, uncovering novel regulators and pathways responsible for adaptation, and leveraging cutting-edge analytical technologies—such as multi-omics, culture-independent methods, and single-cell analyses—to bridge the gap between detailed molecular data and holistic physiological insight.Scope and information for authorsThe scope of this Research Topic encompasses studies on microbial structure, metabolism, and regulation beyond simple clinical association, focusing on how microbes physiologically adapt to diverse environmental and anthropogenic stressors. Manuscripts should move beyond descriptive correlations, providing mechanistic insights into microbial function and metabolic adaptation. To gather further insights into these boundaries, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Comparative genomics and multi-omics profiling of microbial adaptationo Systems biology and metabolic engineering approaches to environmental stress responseso In-depth proteo-lipidomic analysis to decode physiological states under various conditionso Mechanisms underpinning microbial community resilience, biofilm dynamics, and phenotypic plasticityo Innovative single-cell and culture-independent methods elucidating structure-function relationshipso Discovery of novel metabolites, regulators, and stress response mechanismso Functional metaproteomics, metametabolomics, and culturomics applied to communities in dynamic environmentsAppendixWe invite all article types that provide detailed, mechanistic, and integrative knowledge about microbial physiology, metabolic rewiring, and adaptation, with a particular emphasis on research supporting the SDGs and advancing our understanding of microbial structure-function relationships across diverse settings. Topic editors: Guillermo Martinez-de-Tejada, Michał Złoch Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79961/multi-scale-analytical-approaches-to-decipher-microbial-physiology-and-metabolic-rewiring-in-response-to-environmental-and-therapeutic-stressors