Molecular Crosstalk Between Allergens, Microbes, and the Mucosal Immune System
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Allergic diseases arise from complex and dynamic interactions between environmental allergens and the human immune system. The primary sites at which allergic sensitization takes its course are the body’s main environmental interfaces: the skin, gut, and airways. Independent of or in combination with genetic factors, environmental exposures like chemicals, food components, and microbial molecules train the innate immune system of barrier organs during infancy, determining its activation threshold and responsiveness at later life stages. However, environmental co-exposures may also shape the immune response against allergens in already sensitized individuals, leading to symptom exacerbations.
I am delighted to serve as Guest Editor for this Special Issue, “Molecular Crosstalk Between Allergens, Microbes, and the Mucosal Immune System.” We invite researchers working on allergen recognition, innate immune signaling, epithelial–immune interactions, and the molecular basis of co-exposure effects to contribute original studies or reviews. Together, we hope to advance a mechanistic understanding of how environmental signals shape immune outcomes and to identify novel molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Stefanie Gilles
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- allergens and innate immunity
- mucosal immune signaling
- epithelial barrier and inflammation
- pathogen-allergen crosstalk
- bioaerosol exposure
- allergen recognition mechanisms
- environmental immunology
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