About this Research Topic
As important interdependent relationships between animals and microbes continue to evolve, relationships that in most animals begin at infancy and often even before birth (or hatching), it can be argued that more efforts should be focused on defining a broader set of functions for immunity that include not just its role in defenses but in managing symbiotic interactions that are likely shaping host physiological processes (and ultimately, homeostasis). The gastrointestinal tract of animals, for example, has evolved to consist of tightly coupled interactions and/or exchanges between host immunity and the complex microbial communities that reside in the lumen to include mostly synergistic, and sometimes antagonistic, interactions. The gut immune repertoire includes soluble effectors that can be secreted into luminal spaces, facilitating and shaping interactions with microbes in ways that influence their settlement dynamics, virulence, and their interaction with other microbes. Like the digestive tract, other body sites, e.g. the oral cavity or the lungs, have each evolved sometimes unique immune strategies to establish homeostasis with microbes.
The overarching goal of this Research Topic is to stimulate new views and opinions expanding knowledge on the importance of secreted immune effectors in shaping the biophysics and ecology of luminal spaces, especially the complex symbiotic crosstalk between host and microbiota.
This Research Topic will solicit all types of articles and include Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, and Hypothesis and Theory articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics on how secreted immune effector molecules of mucosal tissues:
1. influence settlement dynamics, formation of biofilms, aggregates and/or microcolonies,
2. influence other biological properties of microbes (i.e. epigenetics, phage activation, immunity)
3. influence colonization and composition of different body compartments
4. influence colonization and/or composition following perturbation by external factors, i.e. pollutants, physical environmental changes
5. shape metabolite production and release that can impact host physiology and immunity
6. influence pathobionts decisions so that in some conditions become pathogenic and/or influence immune responsiveness.
While studies on more established model systems are always welcomed, we highly encourage submissions from emerging model organisms, where common, conserved, or derived features of these exchanges can be emphasized. We also welcome submissions featuring both in silico and functional approaches, preferentially connecting the former to the latter.
Keywords: Host-microbes interaction, mucosal immunity, innate immunity, secreted immune effectors, microbiota, biofilm, microbial colonization, model organism, emerging model system
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.