Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) and humans co-evolve for pre-historic times. The pathogen is so successful that despite all the scientific progress, it cannot be eradicated and takes millions of lives every year. The M. tb bacilli remain in the macrophages by evading all the macrophage defenses. Within its phagocytic sustenance, it interacts with host factors and immune components that attempt to neutralize them. But, persisting as a non-replicating entity, it can establish a latent infection. A small fraction of latently infected patients get activated bacterial pathology sooner or later in their life, mostly due to compromised immune and nutritional conditions.
The emergence of multi-drug resistance and totally-drug resistance are enhancing the concerns regarding TB management. In recent decades lots of scientific focus have been shifted to M. tb host interaction, bacterial stress response mechanisms as part of intraphagosomal adaptations. Several mycobacterial protein and lipid mediators and their interaction with the host have shown their significant impact in M. tb stress adaptation and its pathology. Novel therapeutic agents, vaccine and drug candidates are reported in recent times. We aim to present these findings in the area.
The Guest-Editors of this Research Topic welcome Original Research articles, Perspectives, Methods, and Reviews and desire to collate them, but not limited to:
1. Current advancements in M. tb pathogenesis
2. M. tb-host interaction
3. Macrophage mechanisms during TB infection
4. Effect of bacterial and/or host effectors in the M. tb pathophysiology
5. Novel therapeutics, inhibitors and drug candidates driving these interactions for the benefit of host.
This will favor the development of better understanding of M. tb host interaction, its stress adaptation mechanisms. This will support the development of novel therapies and tuberculosis management.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) and humans co-evolve for pre-historic times. The pathogen is so successful that despite all the scientific progress, it cannot be eradicated and takes millions of lives every year. The M. tb bacilli remain in the macrophages by evading all the macrophage defenses. Within its phagocytic sustenance, it interacts with host factors and immune components that attempt to neutralize them. But, persisting as a non-replicating entity, it can establish a latent infection. A small fraction of latently infected patients get activated bacterial pathology sooner or later in their life, mostly due to compromised immune and nutritional conditions.
The emergence of multi-drug resistance and totally-drug resistance are enhancing the concerns regarding TB management. In recent decades lots of scientific focus have been shifted to M. tb host interaction, bacterial stress response mechanisms as part of intraphagosomal adaptations. Several mycobacterial protein and lipid mediators and their interaction with the host have shown their significant impact in M. tb stress adaptation and its pathology. Novel therapeutic agents, vaccine and drug candidates are reported in recent times. We aim to present these findings in the area.
The Guest-Editors of this Research Topic welcome Original Research articles, Perspectives, Methods, and Reviews and desire to collate them, but not limited to:
1. Current advancements in M. tb pathogenesis
2. M. tb-host interaction
3. Macrophage mechanisms during TB infection
4. Effect of bacterial and/or host effectors in the M. tb pathophysiology
5. Novel therapeutics, inhibitors and drug candidates driving these interactions for the benefit of host.
This will favor the development of better understanding of M. tb host interaction, its stress adaptation mechanisms. This will support the development of novel therapies and tuberculosis management.