Recent advancements in biomarkers for diagnosis of infectious diseases

Infectious diseases contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed regions worldwide. Delays in diagnosis remain a major driver of adverse outcomes and are often compounded by the limited availability of robust, rapid diagnostic modalities. Recent advances in immunological testing and biomarker-based approaches have enabled more precise diagnosis of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. A wide range of platforms—including antigen–antibody assays, multiplexing, immunofluorescence, complement-based tests, immunoblotting, and proteomics—are being used to identify and validate clinically actionable biomarkers.Although biomarkers have traditionally been associated with sepsis evaluation, recent progress has expanded their role in diagnosing localized infections as well. The evolution from C-reactive protein to procalcitonin and presepsin, along with emerging damage-associated and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, has supported more timely recognition of infections, including during outbreaks and pandemics. Bioinformatics and artificial intelligence (AI) can further accelerate biomarker discovery, evaluate diagnostic performance, and support translation from the laboratory to the bedside. Biomarkers are also gaining importance for antimicrobial stewardship and infection prognostication, particularly in the context of antimicrobial resistance.This Research Topic aims to explore recent advancements in the discovery, validation, and clinical utility of biomarkers across infectious diseases. Importantly, the scope explicitly includes both pathogen-derived markers and host-derived biomarkers, including host response signatures relevant to fungal and viral infections, to capture the full spectrum of infectious disease biomarkers beyond organism detection alone.We also welcome work adopting a systems biology/immunology approach, integrating genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic signatures (including multi-omics) to identify clinical and host correlates of infectious diseases and to clarify their diagnostic and prognostic value. In addition, we encourage studies and reviews highlighting the role of bioinformatics and AI in biomarker discovery and assay development, as well as manuscripts addressing barriers and practical challenges in implementing these assays in routine patient care.Researchers can submit articles covering the following topics, but not limited to:o Novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of infectious diseaseso Advances in immunological assays and biomarkers for diagnosis of fungal or viral infectionso Host-derived biomarkers and host response signatures in fungal and viral infections (diagnostic and prognostic applications)o Role of biomarkers in detection and monitoring of antimicrobial resistanceo Comparative analyses of conventional diagnostics versus biomarker-based assays in infectious diseaseso Role of bioinformatics in biomarker discovery and assay development for infectious diseaseso Role of artificial intelligence in biomarker discovery, validation, and assay development for infectious diseaseso Systems biology/immunology approaches integrating genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to identify clinical/host correlates and diagnostic/prognostic signatureso Multi-omics approaches for diagnosis of bacterial infections, including antimicrobial resistance markerso Serological and molecular characterization of biomarkers for infectious disease diagnosiso Biomarkers as prognostic factors for infectious diseasesWe invite submissions in the following article types:o Original Researcho Brief Research Reporto Mini Reviewo Reviewo Systematic Reviewo Perspective — forward-looking articles that reflect on how biomarker discovery has evolved and highlight future targets, emerging areas, or directions where novel biomarkers may be identified.o Opinion — personalized, argumentative commentaries that discuss current biomarkers, their limitations, and controversies or unresolved issues surrounding their use. Topic editors: Parakriti Gupta, Dr Kamran Zaman, Raees Ahmad Paul Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78509/recent-advancements-in-biomarkers-for-diagnosis-of-infectious-diseases