About this Research Topic
The oral mucosa is a unique tissue providing a gatekeeping functions for ingested and inhaled antigens, as well as a housekeeping role at the interface between the host tissues and highly diverse commensal microflora.
Immunological niches within the oral cavity not only respond to potential pathogens but also regulate responses and maintain homeostasis. Dysregulation of this homeostasis can impact not only the oral mucosa but is known to also have systemic consequences. Conversely, many systemic diseases present with oral manifestations.
The delineation of inductor and effector sites in oral mucosa has potential for monitoring of health and disease states but also for the administration of vaccine antigens and as drug delivery sites. While the surface epithelium and saliva can be sampled with relatively non-invasive methods which have enormous diagnostic potential, as demonstrated in the current pandemic where the race for accurate and rapid salivary diagnosis of SARS- CoV-2 is pushing the boundaries of portable diagnostics.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to bring up to date as much information as possible regarding the immune status of the oral mucosa and to understand the interactions that underpin the gatekeeper/housekeeper roles of this unique tissue.
We would like to welcome contributions to this topic in the form of Original articles, Reviews or Mini-Reviews covering the following research areas:
1. Updates on the structure and function of immunological niches
2. Epithelial biology in oral mucosal diseases.
3. Innate lymphocytes in the oral cavity
4. The mucosal pellicle in health and disease
5. Secreted immune mediators within the saliva
6. Vaccine and drug delivery systems targeting the oral mucosa
7. Host-pathogen cross talk at the mucosal surfaces.
8. Oral mucosal diseases and immune function
9. Oral microbial colonization and its interaction with immune cells.
10. Repair and defense of the oral mucosa.
11. Effects of ageing on the oral mucosa.
Immunological niches within the oral cavity not only respond to potential pathogens but also regulate responses and maintain homeostasis. Dysregulation of this homeostasis can impact not only the oral mucosa but is known to also have systemic consequences. Conversely, many systemic diseases present with oral manifestations.
The delineation of inductor and effector sites in oral mucosa has potential for monitoring of health and disease states but also for the administration of vaccine antigens and as drug delivery sites. While the surface epithelium and saliva can be sampled with relatively non-invasive methods which have enormous diagnostic potential, as demonstrated in the current pandemic where the race for accurate and rapid salivary diagnosis of SARS- CoV-2 is pushing the boundaries of portable diagnostics.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to bring up to date as much information as possible regarding the immune status of the oral mucosa and to understand the interactions that underpin the gatekeeper/housekeeper roles of this unique tissue.
We would like to welcome contributions to this topic in the form of Original articles, Reviews or Mini-Reviews covering the following research areas:
1. Updates on the structure and function of immunological niches
2. Epithelial biology in oral mucosal diseases.
3. Innate lymphocytes in the oral cavity
4. The mucosal pellicle in health and disease
5. Secreted immune mediators within the saliva
6. Vaccine and drug delivery systems targeting the oral mucosa
7. Host-pathogen cross talk at the mucosal surfaces.
8. Oral mucosal diseases and immune function
9. Oral microbial colonization and its interaction with immune cells.
10. Repair and defense of the oral mucosa.
11. Effects of ageing on the oral mucosa.
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.
