Recent Advances in Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Tuberculosis Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cytokine storm and type I interferon response in COVID-19 pathogenesis; mycobacterial infections; host directed therapy; tuberculosis; rabbit model; animal models; human pulmonary TB
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains one of the most persistent and deadly infectious diseases globally, claiming over a million lives annually. Despite the availability of the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine and a range of antibiotics, TB continues to pose a formidable public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Mtb has further complicated treatment regimens and highlighted the urgent need for novel therapeutic and preventive strategies. Recent advances in molecular biology, immunology, and nanotechnology have opened new avenues for understanding TB pathogenesis and developing innovative tools for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Furthermore, advances in host-directed therapies (HDTs) aim to modulate the immune response to enhance bacterial clearance while minimizing tissue damage, offering a complementary strategy to conventional antibiotics. Given the multifaceted nature of TB and the rapid pace of technological innovation, there is a pressing need for interdisciplinary collaboration to translate these advances into clinical and public health impact. This proposal seeks to bring together experts in molecular biology, immunology, nanotechnology, pharmacology, and clinical medicine to explore and expand the frontiers of TB research.
We are pleased to invite you to submit articles on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of TB pathogenesis that leverage recent knowledge and insights to design novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies for TB.
Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Molecular Pathogenesis of Mtb, including elucidation of host–pathogen interactions at the cellular and subcellular levels, mechanisms of immune evasion and intracellular persistence, the role of iron metabolism and nutrient acquisition in Mtb survival, and genetic and epigenetic regulation of host immune responses.
- Advanced Diagnostic Technologies, including the development of rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tools using molecular probes, application of biosensors and nanomaterials for TB detection, and integration of omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) for biomarker discovery.
- Innovative Therapeutic Approaches, including nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems targeting infected cells, HDTs to enhance immune-mediated clearance, and strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve treatment adherence.
- Vaccine Innovation and Preventive Strategies, including the design and evaluation of next-generation TB vaccines, immunological correlates of protection and long-term immunity, and community-based and personalized prevention models.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Selvakumar Subbian
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 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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- tuberculosis (TB)
- animal models of mycobacterium infections
- molecular pathogenesis
- host-directed therapy (HDT)
- nanoparticle drug delivery
- vaccine development
- cellular immunology
- translational research
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