Outsmarting the Host: How Bacterial Pathogens Modulate Immune Responses in The Lung

Every day, thousands of bacteria gain access into the respiratory epithelium. This contact initiates complex interactions between the lung and the microbes. Host environments, including temperature, pH, ionic strength, mucus viscosity, and pulmonary surfactant prompt bacteria to modulate genes required for invasion, evasion and proliferation. The lung elaborates both innate and acquired immune defenses to counter potentially pathogenic bacterial infections. Taking advantage of the compromised lung immunity caused by primary viral infection, external exposures, impaired mucus clearance mechanisms, ventilator-associated injuries, and other factors, bacterial pathogens and opportunistic commensals establish infection by deploying multi-pronged strategies that involve the bacterial capsule, cell wall, surface appendages, biofilms, secreted and injected virulence determinants. The interplays between bacteria and host result in varied clinical outcomes ranging from full recovery, acute necrotizing pneumonia and pneumonia-derived sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction, to the persistent biofilm-dominated infection in chronically-diseased airways. Understanding the complex interactions between the respiratory epithelium, host immunity and bacterial pathogens may allow more effective therapeutic strategies against pneumonia.

The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight current knowledge and research trends of bacterial pathogenesis in the context of pulmonary immunity and function, and to update ongoing and future antibacterial strategies. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini-Review and Opinion articles that cover different aspects of host immune modulation by respiratory bacterial pathogens, which include but are not limited to:

1. Bacterial virulence determinants that mediate evasion, subversion, and modulation of lung innate and adaptive immunity.
2. Host factors that are involved in pathogen recognition and determination of the success and failure of lung infection, such as innate immune receptors (TLRs, CLRs, NLRs) and downstream signaling mechanisms.
3. The impact of respiratory viral-secondary bacterial infections on lung immunity.
4. The influence of antibacterials, antibacterial resistance, and phage therapy in modulating lung immunity in health and disease.
5. Nonantibiotic based immuno-modulating therapies against respiratory bacterial infections.