Mycobacterial Infections and Human Disease: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies/Boundaries

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue focused on Mycobacterial Infections and Human Disease: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies/Boundaries. Mycobacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), M. leprae, and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), continue to pose serious public health challenges worldwide. Tuberculosis alone remains a leading cause of death from infectious disease, while the incidence of NTM infections is rising, especially among immunocompromised populations. Mtb has evolved from an environmental ancestor to become an obligate human pathogen, with its evolution intertwined with the history of human migration and adaptation. It is believed that Mtb acquired the ability to replicate within host cells and transmit efficiently between humans, becoming highly adapted to human populations. Understanding the complex host–pathogen interactions, mechanisms of immune evasion, antimicrobial resistance, and evolving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is critical for controlling these infections. This research area remains a global health priority due to persistent disease burden, diagnostic limitations, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains.

This Special Issue aims to provide an in-depth exploration of current advances and challenges in the study of pathogenic mycobacteria and their impact on human health. The theme aligns with the journal’s scope, which covers molecular microbiology, infectious disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and translational medicine. The goal is to compile a minimum of 10 high-quality articles for a potential book publication.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Mycobacterial pathogenesis;
• Immune response and evasion;
• Diagnostic advancements;
• Drug resistance mechanisms;
• Vaccine and therapeutic development;
• Epidemiology and clinical case studies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sameer Tiwari
Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi
Prof. Dr. Shahid Umar
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 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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diseases 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 1800 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.