Pulmonary diseases due to mycobacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality to human health. Mycobacterial lung infections are caused by mycobacteria, which include the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are also ubiquitous in soil, water, and food. They are usually harmless to people but for unknown reasons, NTM lung infections are becoming more prevalent in the developed world, including the United States, particularly in the Southwest (including southern California), Southeast, and Hawaii.
Recent epidemiological studies have shown the emergence of NTM species in causing lung diseases in humans. Although more than 170 NTM species are present in various environmental niches, only a handful, primarily Mycobacterium avium complex and M. abscessus, have been implicated in pulmonary disease. Following inhalation, both Mtb and NTM are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages in the lungs. Subsequently, various immune cells are recruited from the circulation to the site of infection, which leads to granuloma formation. Although the pathophysiology of TB and NTM diseases share several fundamental cellular and molecular events, the host-susceptibility to Mtb and NTM infections are different. Striking differences also exist in the disease presentation between TB and NTM cases.
While NTM disease is primarily associated with bronchiectasis, this condition is rarely a predisposing factor for TB. Similarly, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, NTM disease presents as a disseminated, extrapulmonary form rather than as a pulmonary disease, which is seen in Mtb infection. Since NTM is causing lung diseases in humans along with Covid-19, and the interaction of these two morbidities has not been investigated much so far, our aim with this Research Topic, is to collect all the most recent data to aid the national health systems and health workers of the countries struck by NTM plus Covid-19 and to gather useful knowledge to tackle these infectious diseases together. Finally, laboratory diagnosis and treatment of both diseases are quite different.
This comprehensive Research Topic welcomes cutting-edge research findings and reviews on:
- The recent advances in the understanding of the host immune responses against NTM infections in co-infections with Covid-19
- Pathogenesis in NTM infections in co-infections with Covid-19
- Novel therapies for NTM infections considering Covid-19 co-treatments
- Prevention of NTM infections
- Novel diagnosis for NTM infections
- The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence, incidence, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of NTM infections
Pulmonary diseases due to mycobacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality to human health. Mycobacterial lung infections are caused by mycobacteria, which include the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are also ubiquitous in soil, water, and food. They are usually harmless to people but for unknown reasons, NTM lung infections are becoming more prevalent in the developed world, including the United States, particularly in the Southwest (including southern California), Southeast, and Hawaii.
Recent epidemiological studies have shown the emergence of NTM species in causing lung diseases in humans. Although more than 170 NTM species are present in various environmental niches, only a handful, primarily Mycobacterium avium complex and M. abscessus, have been implicated in pulmonary disease. Following inhalation, both Mtb and NTM are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages in the lungs. Subsequently, various immune cells are recruited from the circulation to the site of infection, which leads to granuloma formation. Although the pathophysiology of TB and NTM diseases share several fundamental cellular and molecular events, the host-susceptibility to Mtb and NTM infections are different. Striking differences also exist in the disease presentation between TB and NTM cases.
While NTM disease is primarily associated with bronchiectasis, this condition is rarely a predisposing factor for TB. Similarly, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, NTM disease presents as a disseminated, extrapulmonary form rather than as a pulmonary disease, which is seen in Mtb infection. Since NTM is causing lung diseases in humans along with Covid-19, and the interaction of these two morbidities has not been investigated much so far, our aim with this Research Topic, is to collect all the most recent data to aid the national health systems and health workers of the countries struck by NTM plus Covid-19 and to gather useful knowledge to tackle these infectious diseases together. Finally, laboratory diagnosis and treatment of both diseases are quite different.
This comprehensive Research Topic welcomes cutting-edge research findings and reviews on:
- The recent advances in the understanding of the host immune responses against NTM infections in co-infections with Covid-19
- Pathogenesis in NTM infections in co-infections with Covid-19
- Novel therapies for NTM infections considering Covid-19 co-treatments
- Prevention of NTM infections
- Novel diagnosis for NTM infections
- The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence, incidence, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of NTM infections
