Impact of antibiotic therapy on the mucosal microbiota

The community of microorganisms that colonize the mucosal surfaces of our body, such as the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, and even the ocular surface, plays a pivotal role in maintaining our health. These microorganisms engage in complex interactions with host cells, including direct effects against pathogens, training of immunocytes, and the generation of various molecules from the metabolization of food components, which are crucial for different host systems. However, antibiotics often exhibit a broad range of activity that does not differentiate between harmful pathogens and beneficial microbiota. This indiscriminate action can disrupt the balanced composition of the mucosal microbiota, leading to dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is linked to several health problems, including chronic inflammatory conditions, metabolic disorders, and increased vulnerability to infections. Despite ongoing research, the molecular pathways involved in these alterations remain poorly understood, necessitating further investigation into the effects of antibiotic use on commensal microbiotas from different mucosal surfaces.

This research topic aims to investigate the impact of antibiotic therapies on the microbiotas of different mucosal surfaces and their links to various pathologies. The goal is to analyze these effects at molecular and clinical levels using state-of-the-art methodologies to shed new light on correcting dysbiosis associated with different conditions. The focus is on understanding the negative effects of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis on health, identifying microbial species more susceptible to antibiotics, and exploring alternative treatments such as probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation to prevent or reduce dysbiosis.

To gather further insights into the boundaries of this research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Antibiotic effects on the microbiota resistome
- Human and/or microbial metabolomes
- Immune response alterations due to antibiotic use
- Clinical outcomes of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis
- Alternative treatments to mitigate dysbiosis, such as probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation
- Comparative studies between human subjects and animal models
- Public health implications of antibiotic use and microbiota management

By comprehending the interaction between antibiotics and mucosal microbiota, we can develop better therapeutic strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and promote optimal health. Contributions can take the form of Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, Case Reports, Clinical Trials, and Brief-Research Reports.

Keywords: antibiotics, microbiome, disbiosis, intestinal microbiome, therapeutics, drugs

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.