About this Research Topic
This Research Topic focuses on the neuroimmunology of leading causes of disease burden in Africa or diseases endemic in Africa. This includes both communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, meningitis, human African trypanosomiasis, neurocysticercosis and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke, depressive disorders, endocrine, blood, immune disorders, epilepsy, trauma and road injuries etc. According to the WHO African regional report of 2014 two thirds of the total disease burden in Africa is due to communicable diseases, while NCDs and injuries account for the rest. Some of the diseases or conditions in the top twenty of leading causes of disease burden affect the nervous system e.g. HIV/AIDS, malaria, protein-energy malnutrition, meningitis, road injuries, stroke, immune diseases, tuberculosis, unipolar depressive disorders and epilepsy. The interaction of the immune and the nervous systems is sometimes altered and contributes to the pathophysiology and sequelae of these conditions. Drugs with immunomodulatory activities are sometimes used in the management of some of these diseases/conditions. Thus, understanding the neuroimmunology of these conditions, including the roles of immune cells such as T cells and microglia and immune molecules such as cytokines and chemokines, is essential both for diagnosis and treatment.
Neuroimmunology is a young field and not yet fully established on the curriculum of institutes of higher learning on the African continent. Recently, with the help of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) a few schools on neuroimmunology have been organized on the continent. This theme will pull together reviews from within and outside Africa on the neuroimmunology of leading causes of disease burden in Africa or diseases endemic in Africa. The aim is to stimulate both research and teaching of neuroimmunology on the continent. The collection of articles in this theme could be used in the teaching of neuroimmunology relevant to the continent, including the roles of immune cells such as T cells and microglia and immune molecules such as cytokines and chemokines in the pathogenesis and as biomarkers of the diseases, as well as the role of immunomodulators in the management of some of these conditions. It could also be used for fostering research collaborations and stimulate research to cover gaps within the area of neuroimmunology, which is essential for understanding the pathophysiology of some of these diseases, finding biomarkers for diagnosis and possible treatment options.
This Research Topic welcomes Research and Review articles covering both neuroscience and immunology, and related to the following topics, which are of essence to the diseases and conditions that are a burden to Africa:
• Neuroimmunology of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, meningitis, human African trypanosomiasis, neurocysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, onchocerciasis
• Neuroimmunology of non-communicable diseases such as stroke and cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, depressive disorders, endocrine, blood, immune disorders, trauma and road injuries
• Neuroinflammation and neuropathy that occur due to either the diseases mentioned above or the medications used to manage them such antiretroviral drugs, antiepileptic drugs, suramin etc.
• Drugs or therapeutic agents that can modulate neuroimmune disorders or neuroinflammation caused by the diseases and conditions mentioned above
Neuroimmunology is a young field and not yet fully established on the curriculum of institutes of higher learning on the African continent. Recently, with the help of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and International Society of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) a few schools on neuroimmunology have been organized on the continent. This theme will pull together reviews from within and outside Africa on the neuroimmunology of leading causes of disease burden in Africa or diseases endemic in Africa. The aim is to stimulate both research and teaching of neuroimmunology on the continent. The collection of articles in this theme could be used in the teaching of neuroimmunology relevant to the continent, including the roles of immune cells such as T cells and microglia and immune molecules such as cytokines and chemokines in the pathogenesis and as biomarkers of the diseases, as well as the role of immunomodulators in the management of some of these conditions. It could also be used for fostering research collaborations and stimulate research to cover gaps within the area of neuroimmunology, which is essential for understanding the pathophysiology of some of these diseases, finding biomarkers for diagnosis and possible treatment options.
This Research Topic welcomes Research and Review articles covering both neuroscience and immunology, and related to the following topics, which are of essence to the diseases and conditions that are a burden to Africa:
• Neuroimmunology of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, meningitis, human African trypanosomiasis, neurocysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, onchocerciasis
• Neuroimmunology of non-communicable diseases such as stroke and cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, depressive disorders, endocrine, blood, immune disorders, trauma and road injuries
• Neuroinflammation and neuropathy that occur due to either the diseases mentioned above or the medications used to manage them such antiretroviral drugs, antiepileptic drugs, suramin etc.
• Drugs or therapeutic agents that can modulate neuroimmune disorders or neuroinflammation caused by the diseases and conditions mentioned above
Keywords: Africa, neuroimmunology, neuroinflammation, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases
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.
