About this Research Topic
Metabolic activities in cells drive numerous processes including energy production, macromolecule synthesis, catabolism, intracellular signaling and gene regulation, post-translational modifications, and cellular replication. Additionally, metabolites are important modulators of immune responses in both non-infectious and infectious diseases. Studies on bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens (Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani, and Plasmodium chabaudii) have revealed the metabolic activities of pathogens can have direct, but often variable consequences, to both pathogen virulence and host immune responses. Rapid advancements in our understanding of the connections between host and pathogen metabolic adaptations and immune responses are being driven by combining improved methods for genetic manipulation, omics-based approaches, and single cell technology to classical techniques in biochemistry, microbiology, and immunology. Studies on immunometabolism are providing important groundwork that will significantly advance our understanding of the basic and underlying connections between metabolic activities and immune function during health and disease.
In recent years, technological advances have provided improved detection and measurement of critical, immunomodulatory metabolites in both host and pathogen cells and allowed for interdisciplinary and collaborative research. This Research Topic is dedicated to studies addressing the multiple facets of metabolic adaptation and function as it relates to immune responses during infection. We believe that a thorough understanding of how pathogens utilize and sequester metabolites to achieve infection combined with an understanding of host immune responses and adaptations will provide critically needed insights into new targets for therapeutic intervention.
With this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, and Reviews under, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Characterizations of metabolic activities of pathogens that modulate virulence during infection;
- Characterizations of metabolite flux through host pathways during infection;
- Investigations that differentiate shared metabolic activities and delineate both host- and pathogen-specific metabolite utilization strategies;
- Investigation of signaling activities that coordinate metabolic activities during infection;
- Development of novel multidisciplinary approaches including experimental models of infection to investigate immunological, cellular, and biochemical changes during infection;
The goal of this Research Topic is to compile exceptional research in immunometabolism to serve as a reference for those currently studying or newly entering the field. The Introduction and Discussion should be written for a broad scientific audience due to the broadly relevant themes uncovered through the study of immunometabolism. Articles will be evaluated based on high standards of significance and rigor, as well as interest, relevance and clarity to a broad scientific, medical and public health audience.
In recent years, technological advances have provided improved detection and measurement of critical, immunomodulatory metabolites in both host and pathogen cells and allowed for interdisciplinary and collaborative research. This Research Topic is dedicated to studies addressing the multiple facets of metabolic adaptation and function as it relates to immune responses during infection. We believe that a thorough understanding of how pathogens utilize and sequester metabolites to achieve infection combined with an understanding of host immune responses and adaptations will provide critically needed insights into new targets for therapeutic intervention.
With this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, and Reviews under, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Characterizations of metabolic activities of pathogens that modulate virulence during infection;
- Characterizations of metabolite flux through host pathways during infection;
- Investigations that differentiate shared metabolic activities and delineate both host- and pathogen-specific metabolite utilization strategies;
- Investigation of signaling activities that coordinate metabolic activities during infection;
- Development of novel multidisciplinary approaches including experimental models of infection to investigate immunological, cellular, and biochemical changes during infection;
The goal of this Research Topic is to compile exceptional research in immunometabolism to serve as a reference for those currently studying or newly entering the field. The Introduction and Discussion should be written for a broad scientific audience due to the broadly relevant themes uncovered through the study of immunometabolism. Articles will be evaluated based on high standards of significance and rigor, as well as interest, relevance and clarity to a broad scientific, medical and public health audience.
Keywords: Pathogen, parasite, metabolism, biochemistry, genetics, immunometabolism, metabolite sequestration, adaptive metabolism, immune evasion, immune subversion
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.
