Editorial: Recent advancements in the research models of infectious diseases

Rajadas, SE and Nirmal, CR and Dusthackeer, A and Harshavardhan, S and Parthasarathy, K (2025) Editorial: Recent advancements in the research models of infectious diseases. Editorial: Recent advancements in the research models of infectious diseases, 15 (173160).

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Abstract

Life on Earth is so pleasant till diseases and disorders strike. For long we believed that diseases were acts of God. It is no surprise that this was the time when people strongly supported the theory of spontaneous regeneration. The tables were turned upside down by two forefathers of microbiology, Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. They were the first to experimentally use animal models, such as mice, rabbits, and chickens, especially in controlled settings, and exposed the pathogenicity of microbes and the experimental transmissibility of diseases. This led to the formulation of Koch’s Postulates in 1884 (Dewan and Harvill, 2024). Yet, the dynamic emergence of new pathogens and antimicrobial resistance necessitates continuous advancement in the study of infection biology, as it imposes a significant burden on global health and socioeconomic stability. Central to this endeavor is the development of robust, reproducible, and physiologically relevant models that exactly display host–pathogen interactions despite its complexity. Conventional models, including in vitro cell cultures, in vivo infection systems, and compartmental epidemiological frameworks, have long provided critical mechanistic insights. However, these approaches often fail to fully capture the spatial, temporal, and immunological characteristics (Swearengen, 2018). In recent years, an exciting wave of innovation has emerged, driven by advances in systems biology, high-throughput analytics, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence, enlightening our understanding of the contagiousness, disease progression, and host immunological defense. This Research Topic, Recent Advancements in the Research Models of Infectious Diseases, was conceived to showcase current innovations that are transforming our understanding of infectious processes and to highlight the interplay between experimental systems, computational modeling, and translational applications with clinical relevance.

Affiliation:	ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tubercuosis
Item Type:	Article
URI:	http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/2138

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