This article collection provides a comprehensive overview of current research trends and clinical challenges related to pneumonia and respiratory infections. The studies collectively emphasize the significant morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired and severe pneumonia, particularly in vulnerable populations and in the context of co-infections or antibiotic resistance. Advanced diagnostic tools such as metagenomic next-generation sequencing and RT-qPCR are proven to substantially enhance pathogen identification and inform more targeted antimicrobial therapy, potentially reducing overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Other studies highlight the evolving epidemiology of pathogens like Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the post-pandemic era, the diagnostic value of combined biomarker approaches for urinary tuberculosis, and the impact of respiratory microbiota composition and metabolic disorders in chronic diseases like COPD. Novel approaches to infection management are explored, including the use of predatory bacteria—though with noted complications and the need for further research. Finally, the collection underscores the importance of systems biology and microbiome research, exemplified by computational modeling of bacterial gene regulatory networks and the investigation of gut-lung interactions in postoperative pulmonary infections. Together, these studies advocate for precision diagnostics, holistic patient care, and the exploration of innovative interventions to improve outcomes in respiratory infections.
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The incidence of chronic respiratory diseases that affect adults and children increases year by year. Although the mortality and morbidity of many respiratory diseases is unclear, the World Health Organisation has estimated that approximately 400 million people globally are suffering from mild and moderate conditions of diseases like Asthma and COPD. The death toll from these diseases is beyond 1 million annually. In addition to its high death toll, Respiratory disorders account for 10% of total disability adjusted life years in the workforce.
Respiratory diseases are extremely complex, driven by interactions within the host-environment and presented by inflammatory, structural and functional abnormalities that vary over time. Integrative approaches allow the study of the lung as a complex system, taking into account the large number of subunits and their interactions found within the biological system. Respiratory diseases have a broad clinical spectrum, and they can be caused by many genetic, pharmacological, biological and/or immunological mechanisms. This heterogeneity has led to the use of precision medicine, requiring several different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Systems Biology allows holistic approaches to these diseases, combining data from genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies to design novel drugs and therapies for respiratory diseases.
This research topic welcomes original research articles, reviews and methods articles covering, but not restricted to, the following aspects:
- Immunological mechanisms underlying respiratory diseases
- Novel algorithms to predict patient outcomes upon treatment for respiratory diseases such as Asthma and COPD
- Analyses of gene regulatory or protein interaction networks within these diseases.
- Identification and validation of biomarkers of these diseases using machine learning approaches
Topic Editor Anthony Bosco is a co-inventor on a patent application that is related to this work. Anthony Bosco is a co-founder, equity holder, and director of the startup company Respiradigm Pty Ltd and the subsidiary First Breath Health Pty Ltd that is related to this work. Anthony Bosco is the founder of the startup company INSiGENe Pty Ltd that is unrelated to this work. All other Topic Editors declare no Conflicts of Interest with the Topic.
This article collection provides a comprehensive overview of current research trends and clinical challenges related to pneumonia and respiratory infections. The studies collectively emphasize the significant morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired and severe pneumonia, particularly in vulnerable populations and in the context of co-infections or antibiotic resistance. Advanced diagnostic tools such as metagenomic next-generation sequencing and RT-qPCR are proven to substantially enhance pathogen identification and inform more targeted antimicrobial therapy, potentially reducing overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Other studies highlight the evolving epidemiology of pathogens like Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the post-pandemic era, the diagnostic value of combined biomarker approaches for urinary tuberculosis, and the impact of respiratory microbiota composition and metabolic disorders in chronic diseases like COPD. Novel approaches to infection management are explored, including the use of predatory bacteria—though with noted complications and the need for further research. Finally, the collection underscores the importance of systems biology and microbiome research, exemplified by computational modeling of bacterial gene regulatory networks and the investigation of gut-lung interactions in postoperative pulmonary infections. Together, these studies advocate for precision diagnostics, holistic patient care, and the exploration of innovative interventions to improve outcomes in respiratory infections.
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The incidence of chronic respiratory diseases that affect adults and children increases year by year. Although the mortality and morbidity of many respiratory diseases is unclear, the World Health Organisation has estimated that approximately 400 million people globally are suffering from mild and moderate conditions of diseases like Asthma and COPD. The death toll from these diseases is beyond 1 million annually. In addition to its high death toll, Respiratory disorders account for 10% of total disability adjusted life years in the workforce.
Respiratory diseases are extremely complex, driven by interactions within the host-environment and presented by inflammatory, structural and functional abnormalities that vary over time. Integrative approaches allow the study of the lung as a complex system, taking into account the large number of subunits and their interactions found within the biological system. Respiratory diseases have a broad clinical spectrum, and they can be caused by many genetic, pharmacological, biological and/or immunological mechanisms. This heterogeneity has led to the use of precision medicine, requiring several different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Systems Biology allows holistic approaches to these diseases, combining data from genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies to design novel drugs and therapies for respiratory diseases.
This research topic welcomes original research articles, reviews and methods articles covering, but not restricted to, the following aspects:
- Immunological mechanisms underlying respiratory diseases
- Novel algorithms to predict patient outcomes upon treatment for respiratory diseases such as Asthma and COPD
- Analyses of gene regulatory or protein interaction networks within these diseases.
- Identification and validation of biomarkers of these diseases using machine learning approaches
Topic Editor Anthony Bosco is a co-inventor on a patent application that is related to this work. Anthony Bosco is a co-founder, equity holder, and director of the startup company Respiradigm Pty Ltd and the subsidiary First Breath Health Pty Ltd that is related to this work. Anthony Bosco is the founder of the startup company INSiGENe Pty Ltd that is unrelated to this work. All other Topic Editors declare no Conflicts of Interest with the Topic.