Molecular mechanisms and clinical studies of multi-organ dysfunction in sepsis associated with pathogenic microbial infection

Sepsis, a common complication following burns, trauma, and major surgery, remains the leading cause of death among critically ill patients. Globally, there are about 48.9 million sepsis patients and 11 million deaths in the world every year, with about 3 million cases in China every year. Pathogenic microbial infections play an important role in sepsis progression, frequently lead to multi-organ dysfunction. The causative microorganisms of sepsis are mainly bacteria, viruses and fungi. The high incidence and poor prognosis of sepsis, combined with organ function damage further increases the mortality rate of sepsis patients. The associated pathophysiology of sepsis is complex, and currently, no effective treatment strategies exist. The latest sepsis guidelines and expert consensus emphasize the need of in-depth studies on sepsis-related organ dysfunction and exploration of effective therapeutic options. Therefore, addressing the pathogenesis and potential treatment strategies of sepsis-related multi-organ dysfunction is an urgent priority in acute and critical care medicine, which has important scientific value and clinical significance.

This research topic aims to delve into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sepsis-associated organ dysfunctions, including sleep disturbances, encephalopathy, ARDS, kidney injury, and myocardial injury, caused by pathogenic microorganisms. We seek to identify potential risk factors and explore prevention and treatment strategies. We welcome submissions of original research articles and reviews that contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular and clinical aspects of these conditions.

The scope of this Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following themes:
-Investigate the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of infection-driven sepsis-related organ dysfunctions (brain, lung, kidney, myocardial, liver, and coagulation) through molecular, cellular, and animal studies, especially mouse model.
-Utilize multi-omics, single-cell sequencing, single gene, metagenomic, and proteomic, bioinformatics to identify potential risk factors and clinical characteristics of infection-drivensepsis-related organ dysfunction.
-Construct mathematical models for the diagnosis and prognosis of infection-driven sepsis-induced organ dysfunction using artificial intelligence.