Expert Opinions: Save the Microbes to Save the Planet

With over a trillion species of microorganisms populating our planet, their crucial role in sustaining life and maintaining habitability cannot be overstated. However, a mere fraction of these microorganisms, about 1400 species, contribute to infectious diseases that pose significant risks to human health, leading to pandemics and economic losses. We are calling for global development of sustainable solutions that control infectious agents while safeguarding global microbial diversity and the well-being of our planet. This Research Topic is launched in collaboration with the International Union of the Microbiological Societies (IUMS) ahead of IUMS 2024 - Microorganisms for sustainable solutions: environmental & clinical implementations (October 23-25, 2024) and aims to gather diverse opinions and perspectives on the critical importance of microbial preservation for healthy lives on a healthy planet. We are calling upon researchers from various fields to contribute to this important Research Topic. We seek your insights and perspectives on the following themes:

The importance of the diversity of the microbiome in humans, animals, soil, water:
• How to monitor and preserve microbial diversity;
• The decreasing diversity of human microbiome, effects on the immune system and health;
• What we know about the microbial diversity of soil and water.

How microorganisms contribute to mitigate climate change and planetary pollution:
• Microorganisms remove atmospheric carbon dioxide and contribute to mitigate climate change;
• Microorganisms to clean wastewater, degrading plastics;
• Fixing nitrogen and sparing chemical fertilizers, biofuel production.

Antimicrobial resistance and the development of sustainable solutions:
• Alternatives to broad-spectrum antibiotics for human health, such as vaccines, antibodies, phages, CRSPR-Cas treatments;
• Alternatives to antibiotics for animal farming such as (cows, chicken, fish).

One health approaches:
• Spillover events from the wild or animal farming;
• The need of global open cooperation.

The future of antimicrobial agents: Share your thoughts on minimizing the widespread use of broadly acting antimicrobial agents while promoting the development and application of targeted vaccines and sustainable therapeutic treatments.

Sustainable agriculture and antibiotic use: Provide your perspective on reducing the global overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, addressing the emergence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs through responsible agricultural practices.

Microbes and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Express your opinions on embracing the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and seeking and supporting solutions that promote a healthy planet while preserving microbial diversity.

This Research Topic aims facilitate an open and inclusive dialogue among researchers, fostering a deeper understanding of the significance of microbes for both society and the planet. Your contributions will help shed light on sustainable solutions and strategies that can maximize global well-being while safeguarding microbial life.

Together, let us work towards preserving microbial diversity and securing a sustainable future for our planet.

Keywords: Opinions, Microbial diversity, Infectious diseases, Sustainable solutions, UN Sustainable Development Goals, One Health approach, Antimicrobial resistance, Microbial preservation, Microbes and climate change, Human microbiome

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.