Oral Resistome in Health and Disease: from Biofilm Ecology to Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat to global health and affects oral health. AMR is responsible for thousands of deaths each year and undermines the efficacy of commonly used antibiotics. With the increased global burden of oral diseases and their impact on systemic health, it has been realized that AMR interacts closely with oral health. The oral cavity hosts the second most diverse and complex microbial communities in the human body, serving as a key niche for the colonization, horizontal transfer, and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Oral infections often develop with the formation of complex microbial biofilms, leading to the frequent and inappropriate use of antimicrobials, which further drives the evolution of the oral resistome and the development of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. The distant transmission of AMR via oral microorganisms exacerbates systemic risks and undermines the efficacy of clinical antimicrobial therapy.This Research Topic aims to deepen our knowledge of AMR within the oral ecosystem by exploring the composition and dynamics of the oral microbiota, resistome profiles, phenotypic resistance characteristics, and the role of biofilms in resistance development. Emphasis is placed on identifying the role of the oral resistome in bridging oral health disorders and AMR, and offering evidence-based guidance for rational antimicrobial prescription in oral health management.By integrating microbiological, clinical, and public health perspectives, this collection aims to preserve antimicrobial efficacy and improve oral health outcomes.We welcome the following article types: FAIR² DATA Direct Submission, FAIR² Data, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Systematic Review, Technology and Code, to address these issues and enable the surveillance of oral AMR, antimicrobial stewardship in dental practice, resistance mechanisms, microbial ecology, innovative diagnostic approaches, and strategies to prevent and manage oral infections.Sub-topics of interest cover, but are not limited to:• Genomic characterization, composition, and distribution of the oral resistome in healthy individuals and patients with oral diseases• Ecological, environmental, behavioural, and clinical drivers for oral resistome dynamics• Mechanisms of AMR gene acquisition, horizontal transfer, and evolution in commensal and pathogenic oral microbiota• Novel tools for detection, sequencing, and bioinformatic profiling of the oral resistome• Transmission pathways of oral AMR genes and resistant microorganisms to systemic compartments• Preventive and therapeutic approaches targeting the oral resistome to control oral and systemic infectious diseases• Strategies for mitigating AMR and optimizing surveillance, stewardship and patient care in dental practice Topic editors: Simonetta D'Ercole, Alessandra Fusco, Peng Li, Pramod Kumar, Vasso Apostolopoulos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82707/oral-resistome-in-health-and-disease-from-biofilm-ecology-to-antimicrobial-stewardship