About this Research Topic
The ultimate goal of the human immune system is to eliminate external or internal threats to the host while causing minimal damage to self. To achieve this objective, the immune system has evolved various innate and adaptive effector mechanisms that target pathogens or anomalous cells. At the same time, it has also generated several immunoregulatory circuits with the critical function of controlling the effector immune response. These regulatory cells and components ensure tolerance towards harmless antigens, beneficial microbiota, and healthy self-components, thereby guaranteeing overall health and well-being.
In this scenario, every time the effector immune response is elicited to face a threat, activation of the regulatory counterpart is necessary to assure a balanced response. Evidence supporting the critical role played by the regulatory arm of the immune system has come from almost any process in which the immune system is involved, including not only pathological but also physiological settings.
In the case of infections, much knowledge has been obtained regarding the effector mechanisms responsible for the successful eradication of many pathogens. However, infections caused by several viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi show variable outcomes and complex interactions between the effector response and immunoregulatory cells such as Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and tolerogenic dendritic cells, among others.
Since mortality and morbidity remain high during infection by some complex pathogens, acquiring more knowledge about the involvement of the regulatory arm of the immune system could significantly contribute to understanding host-pathogen interactions and designing more successful prophylactic or therapeutic approaches. Therefore, this topic specifically aims to collect articles that shed light on the involvement of immunoregulatory cells during pathogen infections.
This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Systematic Review, Review and Mini-Review. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Immunoregulatory cells in pathogens infection
• Immunoregulatory cells in vaccines against pathogen infections
• Immunoregulatory cells in therapeutic approaches against pathogens
In this scenario, every time the effector immune response is elicited to face a threat, activation of the regulatory counterpart is necessary to assure a balanced response. Evidence supporting the critical role played by the regulatory arm of the immune system has come from almost any process in which the immune system is involved, including not only pathological but also physiological settings.
In the case of infections, much knowledge has been obtained regarding the effector mechanisms responsible for the successful eradication of many pathogens. However, infections caused by several viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi show variable outcomes and complex interactions between the effector response and immunoregulatory cells such as Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and tolerogenic dendritic cells, among others.
Since mortality and morbidity remain high during infection by some complex pathogens, acquiring more knowledge about the involvement of the regulatory arm of the immune system could significantly contribute to understanding host-pathogen interactions and designing more successful prophylactic or therapeutic approaches. Therefore, this topic specifically aims to collect articles that shed light on the involvement of immunoregulatory cells during pathogen infections.
This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Systematic Review, Review and Mini-Review. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Immunoregulatory cells in pathogens infection
• Immunoregulatory cells in vaccines against pathogen infections
• Immunoregulatory cells in therapeutic approaches against pathogens
Keywords: Pathogen, infection, immunoregulatory cells, Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells, myeloid- derived suppressor, vaccines, therapeutics
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.
