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
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bovine TB
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. Laura Klepp
Dr. Federico Carlos Blanco
Guest Editors
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology 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 2700 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.
Keywords
- mycobacteria
- pathogenesis
- immune evasion
- host–pathogen interactions
- latency
- zoonotic transmission
- comparative immunology
- vaccine development
- host-directed therapies
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
