Various pathogens have been associated with initiation or exacerbation of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. They use unique molecular strategies to alter the neuroimmune crosstalk, which can be triggered by infectious processes in the Central Nervous System (CNS) or initiate from the periphery. Neuroinflammation is a complex response to CNS injury, which involves the interaction between elements of innate and adaptive immunity. Chronic innate immune response sustained by glial cells is a key player in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration. In addition, the neurological condition or its treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs can increase the risk of infectious diseases, as neurological subjects may display impaired immune responses to pathogens. Further, recent evidence underlines immune alterations in cognitive and psychiatric disorders. This bears implications on control of infections in such subjects and, secondly, on the impact of antimicrobial responses on CNS function and behavior.
Several studies support the association between pathogens and CNS diseases, however, despite some recent progress there is much to be understood. In this Research Topic we welcome contributions describing animal and human studies that will bring new efforts to improve the knowledge about the complex host-pathogen interactions during neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders.
We welcome Original Research, Review and Hypothesis and Theory articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:
· Infection pathways and mechanisms of invasion into the CNS
· Protective and pathological immune responses during infection of the CNS
· Link between risk of infection and treatment in neurological diseases
· Role of astrocytes and microglia in CNS infections
· Infection and immune alterations in cognitive and psychiatric disorders
Various pathogens have been associated with initiation or exacerbation of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. They use unique molecular strategies to alter the neuroimmune crosstalk, which can be triggered by infectious processes in the Central Nervous System (CNS) or initiate from the periphery. Neuroinflammation is a complex response to CNS injury, which involves the interaction between elements of innate and adaptive immunity. Chronic innate immune response sustained by glial cells is a key player in the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration. In addition, the neurological condition or its treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs can increase the risk of infectious diseases, as neurological subjects may display impaired immune responses to pathogens. Further, recent evidence underlines immune alterations in cognitive and psychiatric disorders. This bears implications on control of infections in such subjects and, secondly, on the impact of antimicrobial responses on CNS function and behavior.
Several studies support the association between pathogens and CNS diseases, however, despite some recent progress there is much to be understood. In this Research Topic we welcome contributions describing animal and human studies that will bring new efforts to improve the knowledge about the complex host-pathogen interactions during neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders.
We welcome Original Research, Review and Hypothesis and Theory articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:
· Infection pathways and mechanisms of invasion into the CNS
· Protective and pathological immune responses during infection of the CNS
· Link between risk of infection and treatment in neurological diseases
· Role of astrocytes and microglia in CNS infections
· Infection and immune alterations in cognitive and psychiatric disorders