Pathogenesis and Immune Evasion of Mycobacteria in Mammals

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1148

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), INTA-CONICET, Instituto de Biotecnología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), N. Repetto y de Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
Interests: bovine TB

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO), INTA-CONICET, Instituto de Biotecnología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), N. Repetto y de Los Reseros, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
Interests: Mycobacterium bovis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mycobacteria encompass a diverse group of pathogens capable of infecting a wide range of mammalian hosts, including humans, livestock, and wildlife. Their success as pathogens lies in their remarkable ability to persist within host tissues, often establishing chronic or latent infections. Species such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to subvert host immune responses, enabling survival within macrophages, evasion of bactericidal pathways, and modulation of adaptive immunity. These strategies contribute not only to disease progression and transmission but also to major challenges in vaccine development and therapeutic interventions.

Understanding the molecular and cellular basis of mycobacterial pathogenesis and immune evasion is crucial to improving diagnostics, vaccines, and host-directed therapies. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, and immunology have shed light on host–pathogen interactions, revealing potential targets for intervention. Moreover, studying mycobacterial infections in non-human mammals provides valuable insights into cross-species transmission dynamics, zoonotic risks, and comparative immunology.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the pathogenic strategies of mycobacteria and their interactions with mammalian immune systems. We welcome contributions spanning molecular mechanisms, host–pathogen interactions, animal models, and translational research to advance our understanding and inform future control strategies.

Dr. Federico Carlos Blanco
Dr. Cristina Lourdes Vázquez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mycobacteria
  • pathogenesis
  • immune evasion
  • host–pathogen interactions
  • latency
  • zoonotic transmission
  • comparative immunology
  • vaccine development
  • host-directed therapies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 1896 KB  
Article
A Porcine-Isolated Mycobacterium bovis Strain Exhibits Hypervirulence in a Murine Pulmonary Tuberculosis Model
by María Ximena Cuerda, María Alejandra Colombatti, Luisa Berná, Roberto Damián Moyano, Natalia Alonso, María José Gravisaco, Martín José Zumárraga, Karina Caimi, Wanderson Marques Da Silva and María Paz Santangelo
Biology 2026, 15(4), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15040335 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 794
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) infecting a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) are susceptible to different mycobacteria, particularly species within the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). However, in countries where bovine TB is [...] Read more.
Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) infecting a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) are susceptible to different mycobacteria, particularly species within the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). However, in countries where bovine TB is endemic, such as Argentina, M. bovis is the most frequently reported species in pigs. This study aimed to evaluate the immune response and disease progression of a local strain (MB894) isolated from pigs and compare its pathogenicity with the highly virulent strain MB303, isolated from wild boar. Additionally, we sought to explore the genomic basis underlying the virulent phenotype of MB894. For this purpose, a murine infection model was used to assess pathogenicity, organ colonization, dissemination and cytokine induction. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to identify genetic features, including non-synonymous SNPs and INDELs, potentially associated with virulence. The severe immunopathogenesis produced by MB894, the higher multiplication rate in the evaluated organs, and the greater dissemination to other organs compared to MB303, combined with the cytokine levels induced by this strain, prompted us to classify MB894 as a hypervirulent strain. Genomic analysis revealed candidate genes that may be virulence factors contributing to this phenotype. In summary, MB894 represents a hypervirulent M. bovis strain with distinct pathogenic and genomic characteristics. These findings provide insights into the molecular determinants of virulence and highlight the need for further evaluation of identified gene candidates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenesis and Immune Evasion of Mycobacteria in Mammals)
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