Skin Models and 3D tissue: Fungal Infections and Antifungals

Dear Colleagues,

The study of fungal infections (mycoses) represents a growing challenge in clinical practice, especially in organs with complex interfaces such as the eye and skin, which act as primary barriers. Conventional 2D research models fail to adequately replicate the tissue structure, drug diffusion, and complex host–pathogen interactions that occur at these anatomical sites.

This Special Issue focuses on the application of advanced 3D tissue models to revolutionize the study of fungal infections affecting a wide range of body interfaces, from ophthalmology (e.g., fungal keratitis) to dermatology (e.g., skin and subcutaneous infections) and related medical fields (e.g., mucosal or pulmonary infections). The primary goal is to gather contributions on the following topics:

1. Specific Tissue Modeling: Creation and characterization of bioengineered 3D models (e.g., corneas-on-a-chip, reconstructed epidermis, mucosal models) that mimic the physiology and architecture of target tissues.
2. Interactions and Pathogenesis: Investigating the dynamics of fungal invasion (e.g., Aspergillus, Candida, dermatophytes) and host responses across tissue barriers in a 3D environment.
3. Therapeutic Correlation: Validation of antifungal drugs in 3D models. We particularly seek studies that demonstrate a clear interrelationship between the in vitro activity observed in the 3D tissue model and known or predicted in vivo results (e.g., clinical data, animal studies). Such correlations are crucial to improving the predictive power of drug screening.

We encourage the submission of manuscripts introducing innovative platforms for drug testing, analyzing antifungal resistance, and studying tissue-level bioavailability in vitro on 3D models; promoting the adoption of these advanced systems as essential tools for the translational development of novel antifungal therapies.

Prof. Dr. Marisa Meloni
Dr. Salvatore Prete
Prof. Dr. Antonio Del Prete
Guest Editors

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