Advances and Challenges in the Study of Host-Pathogen Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogens’ direct or indirect interaction with the host cell and its effect thereafter is a continuously emerging field. Pathogens manipulate mechanisms at the molecular, biochemical, and biophysical level, evoking a cellular response that facilitates pathogens’ survival and propagation. Studying these mechanisms not only provides insight into cellular mechanisms but also in the process provides novel targets for drugs and diagnostics. Pathogens’ evolving complexity helps to develop resistance against drugs by developing newer pathways, necessitating research for newer drug targets. Pathogens can also modulate host cellular functions and induce an uncontrolled proliferation of cells leading to cancer.

Presently, in the times of COVID-19, host-pathogen interaction has again been in the spotlight, especially with SARS-COV-2’s interaction with cells and host immune response. COVID-19 serves as a warning to revisit lesser understood pathways and mechanisms related to host-pathogen interaction.

On behalf of the Biomedicines journal, you are cordially invited to contribute with an article to this Special Issue on “Advances and Challenges in Host-Pathogen Interactions”. All original research articles, reviews, minireviews, and perspectives will be considered for publication after rigorous peer review. This Special Issue is open to all hosts and pathogens under the purview of biomedical sciences.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Host response to infection and co-infection;
• Cellular effects on the host in response to toxins or other metabolites secreted by the pathogen;
• Mechanisms of intracellular survival;
• Molecular and biochemical response during host-pathogen interaction;
• Regulation of cellular proliferation;
• Advances and challenges in drug design, vaccine development, and therapeutics;
• Advances and challenges in designing and developing diagnostics and sensors.

Dr. Supriyo Ray
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.