About this Research Topic
The central nervous system CNS is separated from the reminder of the body by specific barriers. These include the “classical” blood-brain barrier formed by brain microvascular endothelial cells in conjunction with astrocytes and pericytes, but also the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers located at the arachnoid mater and at the epithelium of the choroid plexus. Diverse pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) can overcome these barriers and infect the central nervous system causing disease like meningitis, encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. During brain entry the pathogens interact with the barrier forming host cells, which involves virulence factors of pathogens and host cell receptors causing cellular reactions including barrier breakdown, cell death and inflammatory responses.
Still, the host-pathogen interactions and the mechanisms involved during brain entry of pathogens are incompletely understood. In this regard, the differences in host-pathogen interactions at the distinct barriers and their consequences are only partly described. With this research topic we would like to compile up-to-date discoveries that help to understand these interactions in more detail. We look for research on novel key players of pathogens and host cells, involved signaling pathways, host cells responses and defense mechanisms, and the interplay between different host cells in reply to pathogenic challenge. We believe that discoveries on these topics can help to improve treatment options during CNS infection.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses all aspects of the interplay between pathogens and host cells at the blood brain barriers during interaction, invasion and transmigration of pathogens as well as host responses. We welcome Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, and Reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Virulence factors of pathogens and their mechanisms and targets
• OMICS approaches (including proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics) focused on the host, pathogen, or both
• Novel improved model systems including organoids
• Host cell reaction (including signaling, impact on barrier function, cell death) and the interplay of different host cells (including endothelium, epithelium, immune cells) during challenge by pathogens
• Functions of extracellular vesicles and exosomes
• Immune responses and immune evasion
Still, the host-pathogen interactions and the mechanisms involved during brain entry of pathogens are incompletely understood. In this regard, the differences in host-pathogen interactions at the distinct barriers and their consequences are only partly described. With this research topic we would like to compile up-to-date discoveries that help to understand these interactions in more detail. We look for research on novel key players of pathogens and host cells, involved signaling pathways, host cells responses and defense mechanisms, and the interplay between different host cells in reply to pathogenic challenge. We believe that discoveries on these topics can help to improve treatment options during CNS infection.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses all aspects of the interplay between pathogens and host cells at the blood brain barriers during interaction, invasion and transmigration of pathogens as well as host responses. We welcome Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, and Reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Virulence factors of pathogens and their mechanisms and targets
• OMICS approaches (including proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics) focused on the host, pathogen, or both
• Novel improved model systems including organoids
• Host cell reaction (including signaling, impact on barrier function, cell death) and the interplay of different host cells (including endothelium, epithelium, immune cells) during challenge by pathogens
• Functions of extracellular vesicles and exosomes
• Immune responses and immune evasion
Keywords: blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, central nervous system disease, host-pathogen interaction, immune response
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.
