Editorial: Systems Immunology and Translational Research in Infectious Diseases

The immune response to infection is a dynamic and multilayered process, by factors, such 23 as genetic background and comorbidities, pathogen burden, and environmental factors (1,2). While 24 reductionist, hypothesis-driven studies, typically centered on one mediator, one pathway, or one cell 25 type at a time, have provided critical insights, they often fall short of capturing the complexity and 26 heterogeneity of immune responses across infectious diseases. 27 Systems immunology, by integrating high-dimensional datasets with clinical phenotypes, offers a 28 comprehensive framework to identify mechanistic patterns, predictive signatures, and therapeutic 29 targets (3,4) which we diagnose, stratify, and treat infectious diseases. As these approaches continue to mature, they 100 will increasingly define the interface between immunology and patient-centered care, closing the loop 101 between bench and bedside. 102