Swine, especially in the last years, have become of great interest to biomedical research. Pigs, in terms of anatomy, genetics and physiology are closely similar to humans. This makes them a relevant animal model for the assessment of, for example, novel vaccines and therapeutics at preclinical stage. At the same time, pigs as a main species of production animal are interesting by themselves and not only as animal models for humans and human diseases. In comparison to other animal species, the porcine immune system is well characterized, and many tools are available. This enables detailed studies on both fundamental and more applied aspects of the immune system in pigs. Vertebrate immune systems may have much in common, but species-specific differences can be prominent. Detailed descriptions of the differences are highly relevant. Alike many, if not all, other vertebrate animals the porcine innate immune system, triggered by the recognition of pathogen-, altered cell- or damage-associated molecular patterns by soluble and/or membrane-bound receptors, is considered an important first line of defence.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect contributions on progress made on understanding especially the innate arm of the porcine immune system. It also aims to collect contributions on advances in comparisons of the porcine innate immune system with that of its human and other vertebrate animal counterparts. Of special interest may also be contributions that highlight characteristics typical of swine when it comes to innate immune cells such as natural killer cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells and their function. These cells not only form the first line of defence but also shape the subsequent response of the adaptive immune system.
We welcome the submission of Review, Mini Review, and Original Research articles that address the following sub-topics:
• Development and functional physiology of immune components
• Antiviral/Antibacterial immune response
• Phylogenetics of immunity
• Molecular regulation of innate immune responses
• Pattern recognition receptors
• Innate immune cytokine/chemokine receptors and downstream signaling pathways
• Innate immune lineage commitment and differentiation
Swine, especially in the last years, have become of great interest to biomedical research. Pigs, in terms of anatomy, genetics and physiology are closely similar to humans. This makes them a relevant animal model for the assessment of, for example, novel vaccines and therapeutics at preclinical stage. At the same time, pigs as a main species of production animal are interesting by themselves and not only as animal models for humans and human diseases. In comparison to other animal species, the porcine immune system is well characterized, and many tools are available. This enables detailed studies on both fundamental and more applied aspects of the immune system in pigs. Vertebrate immune systems may have much in common, but species-specific differences can be prominent. Detailed descriptions of the differences are highly relevant. Alike many, if not all, other vertebrate animals the porcine innate immune system, triggered by the recognition of pathogen-, altered cell- or damage-associated molecular patterns by soluble and/or membrane-bound receptors, is considered an important first line of defence.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect contributions on progress made on understanding especially the innate arm of the porcine immune system. It also aims to collect contributions on advances in comparisons of the porcine innate immune system with that of its human and other vertebrate animal counterparts. Of special interest may also be contributions that highlight characteristics typical of swine when it comes to innate immune cells such as natural killer cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells and their function. These cells not only form the first line of defence but also shape the subsequent response of the adaptive immune system.
We welcome the submission of Review, Mini Review, and Original Research articles that address the following sub-topics:
• Development and functional physiology of immune components
• Antiviral/Antibacterial immune response
• Phylogenetics of immunity
• Molecular regulation of innate immune responses
• Pattern recognition receptors
• Innate immune cytokine/chemokine receptors and downstream signaling pathways
• Innate immune lineage commitment and differentiation