Advancing Understanding of Neonatal Bacterial Infections

Neonatal bacterial infections pose significant risks, particularly threatening the health of premature newborns, with common pathogens including group B Streptococcus and Escherichia coli, among others. The susceptibility of newborns to such infections stems partly from their still-developing immune systems, making them prone to severe complications and increasing mortality rates. Despite decades of research, the intricate interplay of pathogen and host factors contributing to these infections remains not fully understood. This gap in knowledge has perpetuated a critical need for continued investigation into the pathogenesis of these infections and the neonatal immune response.

This Research Topic aims to enhance the comprehension of the molecular pathogenesis of bacterial infections in newborns and to explore the diverse immune responses elicited by these pathogens. We are particularly interested in contributions that may redefine current preventive and treatment paradigms, thereby helping to reduce the incidence and severity of bacterial infections in this vulnerable population.

To gather further insights in this critical area, we welcome Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial pathogens that commonly infect newborns
- Interactions of bacterial pathogens with host epithelial barriers
- Bacterial genomic virulence factors relevant to the pathogenesis of neonatal bacterial infections
- Novel preventive and treatment interventions against bacterial infections in newborns
- Mechanisms by which probiotics and prebiotics modulate host responses to bacterial pathogens in newborns