Neuroinfectious diseases, encephalitis, and neuroinflammation represent a diverse group of conditions that can have devastating effects on the central nervous system. Encephalitis, characterized by inflammation of the brain parenchyma, can result from microbiological pathogens (viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections), autoimmune response, or other known or unknown causes. In the context of neuroinflammation, both infectious and non-infectious etiologies can trigger immune-mediated responses within the brain, contributing to neuronal dysfunction and damage, and to the onset of a wide spectrum of neurological symptoms and complications. The timely and accurate diagnosis of these conditions is crucial for implementing appropriate treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Neuroimaging techniques have emerged as indispensable tools for visualizing structural and functional changes in the brain, enabling the detection of pathological alterations, guiding the etiological diagnosis and the evaluation of drug effectiveness, and supporting clinical decision-making in the management of patients with encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation.
This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the application of neuroimaging modalities such as MRI, PET, CT, SPECT, and Electrophysiological source imaging in elucidating the pathophysiology of encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation, and the implementation of such techniques into clinical settings. Through this collection of articles, we seek to address the gaps in current knowledge, explore new imaging biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognostication, and foster the development of innovative imaging-guided therapeutic interventions to improve clinical outcomes for patients affected by these conditions.
We welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Brief Research Reports, Perspective, Mini-Review, Original Research, Systematic Review, etc.) that delve into various aspects of neuroimaging in the context of encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation. Specific themes of interest include but are not limited to:
• Imaging features and patterns in different types of encephalitis and neuroinfections
• New methods in neuroimaging to assess neuroinflammation (e.g., Electrophysiological source imaging in research and clinical settings, imaging on specimens, 3D imaging, isotope tracers, artificial intelligence applications, etc.) and their implications for treatment strategies
• Role of advanced neuroimaging techniques in differential diagnosis and disease monitoring
• Integration of multimodal neuroimaging data for comprehensive disease characterization
• Novel imaging technologies and methodologies for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in these neurological disorders.
• Advancements in neuroimaging such as diffusion-weighted imaging, MRI, and MRI spectroscopy, for diagnostic accuracy and prognostication.
• Correlation of electroencephalographic and neuroimaging techniques in characterization of the diagnosis and disease monitoring and therapeutic management.
Articles accepted after peer review will be published and appear online as soon as approved for publication.
Dr. Tracy Fischer is an inventor of a patent on a blood biomarker of HIV-1 infection and NeuroAIDS (Patent N. US 8,273,538 B2). The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests concerning the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
imaging, encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, neuroinflammation, neuroimaging
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.
Neuroinfectious diseases, encephalitis, and neuroinflammation represent a diverse group of conditions that can have devastating effects on the central nervous system. Encephalitis, characterized by inflammation of the brain parenchyma, can result from microbiological pathogens (viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections), autoimmune response, or other known or unknown causes. In the context of neuroinflammation, both infectious and non-infectious etiologies can trigger immune-mediated responses within the brain, contributing to neuronal dysfunction and damage, and to the onset of a wide spectrum of neurological symptoms and complications. The timely and accurate diagnosis of these conditions is crucial for implementing appropriate treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Neuroimaging techniques have emerged as indispensable tools for visualizing structural and functional changes in the brain, enabling the detection of pathological alterations, guiding the etiological diagnosis and the evaluation of drug effectiveness, and supporting clinical decision-making in the management of patients with encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation.
This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the application of neuroimaging modalities such as MRI, PET, CT, SPECT, and Electrophysiological source imaging in elucidating the pathophysiology of encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation, and the implementation of such techniques into clinical settings. Through this collection of articles, we seek to address the gaps in current knowledge, explore new imaging biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognostication, and foster the development of innovative imaging-guided therapeutic interventions to improve clinical outcomes for patients affected by these conditions.
We welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Brief Research Reports, Perspective, Mini-Review, Original Research, Systematic Review, etc.) that delve into various aspects of neuroimaging in the context of encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, and neuroinflammation. Specific themes of interest include but are not limited to:
• Imaging features and patterns in different types of encephalitis and neuroinfections
• New methods in neuroimaging to assess neuroinflammation (e.g., Electrophysiological source imaging in research and clinical settings, imaging on specimens, 3D imaging, isotope tracers, artificial intelligence applications, etc.) and their implications for treatment strategies
• Role of advanced neuroimaging techniques in differential diagnosis and disease monitoring
• Integration of multimodal neuroimaging data for comprehensive disease characterization
• Novel imaging technologies and methodologies for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in these neurological disorders.
• Advancements in neuroimaging such as diffusion-weighted imaging, MRI, and MRI spectroscopy, for diagnostic accuracy and prognostication.
• Correlation of electroencephalographic and neuroimaging techniques in characterization of the diagnosis and disease monitoring and therapeutic management.
Articles accepted after peer review will be published and appear online as soon as approved for publication.
Dr. Tracy Fischer is an inventor of a patent on a blood biomarker of HIV-1 infection and NeuroAIDS (Patent N. US 8,273,538 B2). The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests concerning the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
imaging, encephalitis, neuroinfectious diseases, neuroinflammation, neuroimaging
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.