Infectious diseases continue to pose significant threats to public health worldwide, driving ongoing research efforts to understand, mitigate, and combat them. Recent advancements in research models have revolutionized our ability to study these diseases with unprecedented precision and depth. These models serve as invaluable tools, offering insights into pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Traditional models, such as mice and rats, have been augmented with genetically modified organisms, allowing researchers to mimic human physiological responses more accurately. Additionally, the development of non-human primate models provides a closer approximation to human biology, particularly in diseases with complex immune responses like HIV/AIDS and Ebola.

Furthermore, the incorporation of cutting-edge technology like organoid culture systems and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has made it possible to create complex in vitro models. These platforms provide a controlled setting for investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying disease states, thereby enabling high-throughput screening of possible treatments and clarifying complex host-pathogen dynamics. Interdisciplinary cooperation involving microbiologists, immunologists, geneticists, and engineers is stimulating innovation and driving advancement in this quickly changing field. Through the utilization of advanced research models, scientists may effectively investigate the intricacies of infectious diseases and facilitate the development of more efficacious approaches to prevention and treatment.

This Research Topic is open to showcase the transformative potential of research models of infectious diseases in advancing our understanding and management of global health challenges. The objective is to present recent advancements in research models of infectious diseases, elucidating their role in enhancing our understanding of disease dynamics, facilitating the development of interventions, and improving public health outcomes. We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review, Hypothesis & Theory, Mini Review, Brief Research Report, General Commentary, and Opinion article types. Through articles covering computational modeling, in vitro and in vivo models, microfluidic devices, big data analytics, and translational research, we aim to showcase the latest developments, explore their applications in disease research and control, discuss challenges and future directions, and provide insights for policymakers and researchers.

The scope includes but is not limited to:

• Current advancements in computational models replicate the dynamics of transmission, evolution, and management tactics of infectious illnesses.

• In vitro models that mimic human physiological systems, such as organoids, tissue chips, and three-dimensional cell cultures, are used in drug testing and pathogen-host research.

• Advancements in handling animal models, including genetically modified organisms and non-human primates, for studying infectious diseases, vaccine development, and preclinical testing of therapeutics.

• Microfluidic platforms for studying the behavior of pathogens, host immune responses, and drug efficacy in a controlled microenvironment.

• Opinion on the ethical considerations, design, and outcomes of human challenge studies as a tool for understanding disease pathogenesis, immune responses, and vaccine development.

• Cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR-based diagnostics, single-cell sequencing, and advanced imaging techniques for studying infectious diseases and developing novel interventions.

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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

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