Mycobacteria and the Macrophage

103.2K

views

115

authors

19

articles

Mycobacteria and the Macrophage

103.2K

views

115

authors

19

articles

Editors

3

Suzie Hingley-Wilson

University of Surrey

Samantha Leigh Sampson

Stellenbosch University

Sangeeta Tiwari

The University of Texas at El Paso

Impact

About

The macrophage (or “big eater”) is often considered the first cell type to encounter the causative agent of Tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, upon entry to the lung. Once inside the macrophage the tubercle bacillus can survive and even replicate where many other invading pathogens perish. Recent research suggests the bacilli adapts within this hostile environment, treating the macrophage like a Trojan horse. Indeed, cutting-edge techniques have revealed that the degree of bacterial heterogeneity and resistance to antibiotics changes within the macrophage.

M. tuberculosis spends most of its life cycle within the macrophage and has adopted specific mechanisms to survive, egress and to recruit more of this niche cell (eg the Type VII secretion system ESX-1). Understanding the host-pathogen interaction in tuberculous infection is key to understanding TB, which remains the number one cause of death from a bacterial infection.

In this research topic we aim to cover advances in understanding how the tubercle bacillus adapts and survives within the host cell. Determining the responsible mechanisms may reveal novel ways to target this deadly pathogen and halt its adaptation and transformation within these potentially destructive or permissive cells.

We welcome submission of Original Research Articles, Methods Articles, Reviews and Mini Reviews covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Advances in interdisciplinary methodology and cutting edge tools used to dissect the host-pathogen interaction
• Antibiotic resistance, tolerance or persistence mechanisms and drug penetration within intracellular bacteria
• Pathogenesis survival mechanisms utilized by species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) within the human macrophage
• Survival strategies utilized by other intracellular mycobacterial species
• The impact of bacterial genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity on macrophage interactions

The macrophage (or “big eater”) is often considered the first cell type to encounter the causative agent of Tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, upon entry to the lung. Once inside the macrophage the tubercle bacillus can survive and even replicate where many other invading pathogens perish. Recent research suggests the bacilli adapts within this hostile environment, treating the macrophage like a Trojan horse. Indeed, cutting-edge techniques have revealed that the degree of bacterial heterogeneity and resistance to antibiotics changes within the macrophage.

M. tuberculosis spends most of its life cycle within the macrophage and has adopted specific mechanisms to survive, egress and to recruit more of this niche cell (eg the Type VII secretion system ESX-1). Understanding the host-pathogen interaction in tuberculous infection is key to understanding TB, which remains the number one cause of death from a bacterial infection.

In this research topic we aim to cover advances in understanding how the tubercle bacillus adapts and survives within the host cell. Determining the responsible mechanisms may reveal novel ways to target this deadly pathogen and halt its adaptation and transformation within these potentially destructive or permissive cells.

We welcome submission of Original Research Articles, Methods Articles, Reviews and Mini Reviews covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Advances in interdisciplinary methodology and cutting edge tools used to dissect the host-pathogen interaction
• Antibiotic resistance, tolerance or persistence mechanisms and drug penetration within intracellular bacteria
• Pathogenesis survival mechanisms utilized by species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) within the human macrophage
• Survival strategies utilized by other intracellular mycobacterial species
• The impact of bacterial genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity on macrophage interactions

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Editors

Suzie Hingley-Wilson

University of Surrey

Samantha Leigh Sampson

Stellenbosch University

Sangeeta Tiwari

The University of Texas at El Paso

Impact

103,169 Total views

69,264 Article views

32,299 Article downloads

1,606 Topic views

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Frontiers in Immunology

Molecular Innate Immunity

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