Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the degradation of intracellular components, such as damaged organelles and proteins, to maintain cellular homeostasis. It plays a critical role in the host response to infection, as it can eliminate intracellular pathogens and limit their replication. In addition, autophagy can also induce cell death, which can prevent the spread of infection to neighboring cells. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy is a primary mechanism of cell death (autophagic cell death) and the interplay between autophagy and cell death in the host response to infection is complex and dynamic. Aquatic animals are exposed to a variety of pathogens and environmental stressors that can compromise their health and survival. To combat these threats, aquatic animals possess a complex immune system that involves both innate and adaptive responses. Although some attention has been paid to investigating the induction of autophagy and cell death under conditions of pathogen infection in aquatic animals, our understanding of autophagy and cell death in aquatic animal cells is still limited.
A recent study identified that autophagy relieves ER stress to facilitate proper mucus secretion. Since the mucus is a critical arm for the anti-infectious defense of most aquatic animals, uncovering the pathways of autophagy and cell death in aquatic animal cells and their roles in innate and adaptive immune responses will: 1) provide insight into the ancient defense mechanisms of multicellular organisms; 2) throw light on how autophagy and cell death are developed; and 3) be benefit to developing new therapeutic strategies to improve the health of those economic aquatic animals. Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of the interaction of host autophagy and cell death with immune responses against pathogen invasion in aquatic animals and to provide an insight into the similarities and differences of autophagy and cell death between aquatic animals and primate from the evolutionary perspective.
We encourage the submission of original research articles focusing on the molecular and cellular aspects regulating autophagy and cell death after pathogen invasion in aquatic animals. Review articles will also be considered. We welcome submissions that cover, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between autophagy, cell death, immune response, and cellular communication.
• Roles of autophagy and cell death in mucosal defense system and the development of immune cells of aquatic animals.
• Evolutionary or comparative analysis for the autophagy/cell death pathways in aquatic animals;
• Feed additives, drugs, pollutants, and the water environment involved in autophagy and cell death responses that affect aquatic animal health;
• Gut microbiota and metabolites modulating host autophagy, cell death, and immune response in aquatic animals.
Keywords:
Autophagy, Cell death, Aquatic animal, Infectious disease, Mucosal immunity, Immune evolutionary
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.
Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the degradation of intracellular components, such as damaged organelles and proteins, to maintain cellular homeostasis. It plays a critical role in the host response to infection, as it can eliminate intracellular pathogens and limit their replication. In addition, autophagy can also induce cell death, which can prevent the spread of infection to neighboring cells. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy is a primary mechanism of cell death (autophagic cell death) and the interplay between autophagy and cell death in the host response to infection is complex and dynamic. Aquatic animals are exposed to a variety of pathogens and environmental stressors that can compromise their health and survival. To combat these threats, aquatic animals possess a complex immune system that involves both innate and adaptive responses. Although some attention has been paid to investigating the induction of autophagy and cell death under conditions of pathogen infection in aquatic animals, our understanding of autophagy and cell death in aquatic animal cells is still limited.
A recent study identified that autophagy relieves ER stress to facilitate proper mucus secretion. Since the mucus is a critical arm for the anti-infectious defense of most aquatic animals, uncovering the pathways of autophagy and cell death in aquatic animal cells and their roles in innate and adaptive immune responses will: 1) provide insight into the ancient defense mechanisms of multicellular organisms; 2) throw light on how autophagy and cell death are developed; and 3) be benefit to developing new therapeutic strategies to improve the health of those economic aquatic animals. Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of the interaction of host autophagy and cell death with immune responses against pathogen invasion in aquatic animals and to provide an insight into the similarities and differences of autophagy and cell death between aquatic animals and primate from the evolutionary perspective.
We encourage the submission of original research articles focusing on the molecular and cellular aspects regulating autophagy and cell death after pathogen invasion in aquatic animals. Review articles will also be considered. We welcome submissions that cover, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between autophagy, cell death, immune response, and cellular communication.
• Roles of autophagy and cell death in mucosal defense system and the development of immune cells of aquatic animals.
• Evolutionary or comparative analysis for the autophagy/cell death pathways in aquatic animals;
• Feed additives, drugs, pollutants, and the water environment involved in autophagy and cell death responses that affect aquatic animal health;
• Gut microbiota and metabolites modulating host autophagy, cell death, and immune response in aquatic animals.
Keywords:
Autophagy, Cell death, Aquatic animal, Infectious disease, Mucosal immunity, Immune evolutionary
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.