Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) refer to all members of the genus Mycobacterium except for the M. tuberculosis complex, which causes tuberculosis (TB), and M. leprae and M. lepromatosis, which cause leprosy. NTM were first reported as an important pathogenic microorganism in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in the 1980s. NTM cause disseminated infection in patients with immunodeficiencies, and also cause pulmonary disease with persistent infection and progressive lung damage in HIV negative individuals, particularly among women and older age groups, for reasons which are unknown.

In industrialized countries, incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NTM pulmonary disease (NTMPD) have steadily increased, whereas TB has decreased over the past 4 decades. Since both NTMPD and TB have similar clinical manifestations and radiographic lesions, differential diagnosis of NTMPD from TB is a significant challenge and is often misleading. Thus, the incidence of NTMPD might be underestimated in many TB-endemic countries.

NTM does not respond well to the standard anti-TB drugs. Inappropriate clinical use of anti-TB drugs might be associated with prolonged treatment periods and could contribute to the emergence of drug resistant-strains of mycobacteria. Therefore, comprehensive studies of NTMPD are required to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies for mycobacterial disease.

Although several studies of patients with NTMPD have examined their immune responses, findings have been inconsistent. Moreover, limited data are available on pathogenesis and how NTMPD is established and progressed. Thus, studies to gain insight into the immunologic factors that predispose persons to NTMPD and studies to determine clear pathogenesis of NTMPD are highly required.

In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of manuscripts including Original Research, Review, Case Report, and Clinical Trial Articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

• Immunopathogenesis of NTMPD.
• Immunological host risk factors to develop NTMPD.
• Immunological host defense mechanisms against NTM infection.
• Immunological biomarkers to predict the prognosis of NTMPD.
• Host-directed immunotherapy for NTMPD.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Immunology

Participating Journals

Impact