Oral Microbiome Engineering: Antimicrobial Strategies and Biofilm Modulation

The oral microbiome, comprising diverse microbial communities inhabiting the mouth, plays a critical role in the maintenance of oral and systemic health. Imbalances within this complex ecosystem have been closely linked to prevalent disorders such as dental caries, periodontitis, and systemic conditions including cardiovascular diseases. Despite the advancement of antimicrobial therapies and oral hygiene interventions, persistent and resilient multispecies biofilms complicate the eradication of pathogenic organisms, raising questions about the efficacy, specificity, and sustainability of traditional strategies. Current knowledge points to the limitations of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which may disrupt beneficial microbial networks and contribute to antimicrobial resistance, underscoring the urgent need for precision-targeted interventions.Recent studies have identified promising approaches to modulate oral microbiome, including the use of probiotics, prebiotics, bacteriophage therapy, and precision antimicrobials designed to selectively modulate harmful microbial populations without compromising the integrity of commensal communities. Advances in omics technologies and bioinformatics have unraveled the intricate interactions governing biofilm architecture, pathogen-host dynamics, and resistance mechanisms. Despite these breakthroughs, several challenges persist in translating laboratory discoveries into clinically viable therapies, and significant gaps remain in understanding the long-term ecological impacts, efficacy, and safety of emerging approaches. Further research is needed to bridge these gaps and to develop robust biofilm-modulatory and antimicrobial strategies for oral health management.This Research Topic aims to advance the field of oral microbiome engineering by gathering original research, reviews, and perspectives on innovative antimicrobial approaches and biofilm modulation techniques. The main objectives are to explore targeted methods for disrupting pathogenic biofilms, investigate the safety and effectiveness of next-generation antimicrobials, and evaluate the ecological outcomes of selectively engineering oral microbial communities. Contributions are encouraged that elucidate mechanisms underlying biofilm resilience, report clinical and translational findings, and introduce novel engineering or therapeutic methodologies.To gather further insights in oral microbiome engineering and its implications for antimicrobial interventions and biofilm management, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Precision-targeted antimicrobial agents and narrow-spectrum therapies• Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic strategies for oral microbiome modulation• Molecular and ecological mechanisms of biofilm formation, maintenance, and disruption• Bacteriophage therapies and innovative biocontrol methods• Omics approaches and computational tools for oral microbiome and biofilm analysis• Translational and clinical studies evaluating oral microbiome engineering strategies• Safety, resistance, and long-term ecological consequences of microbiome-directed interventionsWe welcome research that provide novel insights into the engineering and modulation of the oral microbiome.Topic Editor Sigrun Eick will receive financial support from Research grants from Perio Trap Pharmaceuticals GmbH and GC Corporation in the year 2025-2026. The other Topic Editors report no competing interests related to this Research Topic. Topic editors: Gabriel Nunes, Sigrun Eick, Dongyeop Kim Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75843/oral-microbiome-engineering-antimicrobial-strategies-and-biofilm-modulation