About this Research Topic
Success in establishing a mycobacterial infection depends on the ability of the bacteria to subvert the host cells defense mechanisms and also the ability to survive and proliferate inside the host cell. To survive, mycobacteria produce virulence factors that enhance adherence and invasion, as well as modulate the cascades of host cell signaling and trafficking. Understanding of mycobacteria-host cell interaction, immunological properties, and defensive mechanisms will provide development of better preventives and therapeutics against TB, leprosy, and NTM diseases.
Our Research Topic highlights recent advances in mycobacteria-host cell interaction studies, including cellular and molecular targets of mycobacterial diseases, mycobacteria-mediated cell death mechanisms, host cell factors/pathways that act on mycobacteria to contain the infection, and immune evasion mechanisms utilized by mycobacteria. Understanding of the mechanisms of mycobacteria-host interaction at the cellular level will contribute crucial insights into the development of mycobacterial diseases new treatments and vaccines.
We welcome submissions of original research and review articles covering on the following principal aspects:
• Host immune responses and mechanisms to control infection with M. leprae, M. lepromatosis, M. ulcerans, M. tuberculosis and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• Mycobacterial strategies and mechanisms used to escape or evade host defense system
• Activation of antimicrobial signaling pathways: the role of autophagy and antimicrobial peptides against mycobacterial infection.
• Cytosolic pathogen recognition pathways and inflammasome activation in response to mycobacteria
• Epigenetics related to immune protection or pathogenesis during mycobacterial diseases
• Immunometabolism crosstalks with host defense in mycobacterial infections
Keywords: leprosy, mycobacterial diseases, cell death, cellular targets, immune evasion, autophagy, mycobacteria - host cell interactions
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.