About this Research Topic
Microbial pathogen infections have a major effect on morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathogens are armed with numerous virulence factors, which are involved in all stages of infectious diseases, from host invasion to spread and establishment of infection in host tissues. The control and treatment of infections become even more complicated if infectious agents are multidrug resistant. Behaviour of the microbial pathogen communities is complex and it is mainly regulated via quorum sensing (QS) and a number of other global regulators. These regulatory circuits form the network of regulatory cascades that control many functions in microbial pathogens including virulence, conjugation, genetic competence, biofilm formation, attachment, antimicrobial resistance, sporulation, motility, and other functions. Importantly, regulatory molecules of these networks can exert broader effects, involving other pathogens and even affecting the host.
Thus, the regulatory networks of microbial pathogens play an important role in the pathogenesis of infectious disease and, to a certain extent, define the course of infectious disease. Understanding these regulatory networks would help to design better intervention strategies in order to limit the damage inflicted by pathogens to the host and decrease morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, the main aim of this research topic is to gather novel concepts in the area of regulatory systems of microbial pathogens, which will help a better understanding of microbial pathogenesis as well as define novel therapeutic strategies to reduce the virulence and antimicrobial resistance potentials of microbial pathogens.
This Research Topic will consider research articles, reviews and mini-reviews on the next themes:
• QS regulation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance in microbial pathogens.
• Regulation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance by global regulators in microbial pathogens.
• Interactions between QS and global regulators as well as between different global regulators.
• Novel treatment concepts targeting QS and global regulators of microbial pathogens.
Thus, the regulatory networks of microbial pathogens play an important role in the pathogenesis of infectious disease and, to a certain extent, define the course of infectious disease. Understanding these regulatory networks would help to design better intervention strategies in order to limit the damage inflicted by pathogens to the host and decrease morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, the main aim of this research topic is to gather novel concepts in the area of regulatory systems of microbial pathogens, which will help a better understanding of microbial pathogenesis as well as define novel therapeutic strategies to reduce the virulence and antimicrobial resistance potentials of microbial pathogens.
This Research Topic will consider research articles, reviews and mini-reviews on the next themes:
• QS regulation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance in microbial pathogens.
• Regulation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance by global regulators in microbial pathogens.
• Interactions between QS and global regulators as well as between different global regulators.
• Novel treatment concepts targeting QS and global regulators of microbial pathogens.
Keywords: Microbial pathogens, Regulatory cascades, Quorum sensing, Global regulators, Virulence factors, Antimicrobial resistance
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