Monoclonal antibodies and host-directed immunotherapies represent cutting-edge molecular therapeutic strategies for treating infectious diseases by directly harnessing or modulating the host immune system. Infectious diseases remain a major global health challenge, and conventional antimicrobial therapies are often limited by resistance, incomplete efficacy, or inability to restore immune balance. Immune-based therapies provide a complementary approach, aiming not only to eliminate pathogens but also to enhance the host’s immune defenses and promote long-term protection.

This Research Topic focuses on the development, mechanistic understanding, and translational application of immune-based molecular therapeutics for infectious diseases. By bridging fundamental immunology with therapeutic innovation, it seeks to highlight strategies with high translational potential that advance the design, optimization, and clinical application of molecular interventions. Understanding the immune pathways that drive protection and pathology is critical to designing interventions that are both effective and safe, and preclinical models and biomarker studies are key to guiding clinical development.

We welcome submissions covering preclinical, translational, and clinical studies, including but not limited to:

-Monoclonal antibodies and engineered biologics for infectious disease treatment: studies evaluating efficacy, specificity, and mechanisms of action.
-Host-directed immunotherapies and immunomodulatory approaches: strategies that enhance pathogen clearance or restore immune balance without directly targeting the pathogen.
-Mechanistic studies of immune pathways relevant to therapeutic interventions: work that elucidates signaling pathways, cellular interactions, and immune regulation relevant to therapy.
-Immune checkpoint modulation in the context of infection: interventions that fine-tune immune activation to improve pathogen control while limiting immunopathology.
-Biomarkers and correlates of immune-mediated therapeutic efficacy: research identifying predictive markers for treatment response and guiding translational development.

By concentrating on these approaches, this Research Topic aims to provide a coherent and focused platform for studies that advance immune-based molecular therapeutics and accelerate their translation into clinical practice.

Babita Agrawal is the founder of a biotech Company, ImMed Biotechnologies and hold several patents; All other topic editors declare no conflict of interest

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Immune-based molecular therapeutics for infectious diseases: Monoclonal antibodies and host-directed interventions