Microbial Interactions and Survival Mechanisms in Chronic Respiratory Infections

Chronic respiratory diseases, ranging from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-CF bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis are major public health concerns. Patients experiencing chronic respiratory disorders are susceptible to respiratory infections caused by a group of pathogens including Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, among others. The etiology of these chronic respiratory infections is primarily the initial reduced ability of the patients to clear the pathogens from the respiratory tract, leading to the development of chronic phase of infections which are more difficult to treat by antibiotics. Within a chronic infection site, the microbial community exercises various modality of inter-species interactions resulting in a balance between competition and cooperation which ultimately leads to negative outcome for the patients. Understanding the physiological mechanisms deployed by these pathogens and the conditions that trigger these systems is necessary to permit an efficient management of respiratory infections.

The research topic aims to understand the methods (gene regulations, protein modifications, antibacterial compound production), and structures (membrane proteins, transporters, toxins) utilized by the respiratory pathogens to survive antibiotic pressure as well as to compete against other bacteria in the new habitat. The interest will be emphasized on the phenomenon of bacterial persisters following antibiotic treatment and the changes in bacterial interactions from competition to coexistence between competing bacteria. The knowledge acquired from this research topic will provide helpful data to improve and to develop enhanced antibiotic treatments and novel therapeutic strategies.

This Research Topic will accept Original Research and Review Article focusing on the following aspects of microbial interactions and survival mechanisms in chronic respiratory infections:

-Microbial interaction in respiratory infection
-Molecular mechanisms supporting bacterial competition/coexistence
-Bacterial persisters following antibiotic treatment
-Bacterial co-infection in cystic fibrosis
-MRSA/MSSA and chronic infection
-Burkholderia cepacia and chronic lung infection
-Non-lactose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli Burkholderia and Stenotrophomonas
-CF-lung infection by Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Burkholderia cepacian, Mycobacteria, and Achromobacter xylosoxidans (previously named Alcaligens xylosoxidans).
-Bacterial transporters and respiratory infection
-Anti-staphylococcal compounds secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
-Antibiotic resistance and tolerance in respiratory infections
-Bacterial persister phenomenon following antibiotic treatment