Encephalitis: Mechanisms, Models, and Treatment Strategies
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 12
Special Issue Editors
Interests: experimental pathology; veterinary pathology; neuropathology; Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis; host–pathogen interactions; histopathology; translational animal models; infectious disease pathology; comparative pathology; pathology education
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, titled “Encephalitis: Mechanisms, Models, and Treatment Strategies”.
Encephalitis remains a major and multifaceted challenge at the intersection of biology, human medicine, and veterinary medicine. It encompasses a wide range of infectious, immune-mediated, and idiopathic disorders that affect the central nervous system and result in substantial morbidity and mortality across species. Despite major advances in molecular biology, immunology, neurobiology, and clinical medicine, important questions remain regarding the mechanisms that initiate brain inflammation, the determinants of tissue injury and repair, the variability of host responses, and the development of more effective diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.
This field is inherently interdisciplinary. The study of encephalitis spans fundamental biological processes such as pathogen–host interaction, neuroinflammation, immune signaling, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, glial activation, neuronal injury, and tissue recovery. At the same time, it has direct relevance to both human and veterinary medicine, where encephalitis continues to present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in a broad spectrum of clinical settings. Comparative and translational perspectives are especially valuable, as naturally occurring and experimental animal models can deepen our understanding of disease mechanisms while also informing medical and veterinary practice.
This Special Issue aims to provide an integrative forum for current research on the biological basis, disease mechanisms, experimental models, comparative features, and treatment approaches of encephalitis. It seeks to bring together contributions from researchers working in molecular and cellular biology, neuroscience, infectious diseases, immunology, neurology, pathology, veterinary medicine, and translational medicine. The topic is well aligned with the scope of a broad biomedical or life sciences journal because it bridges fundamental mechanism-oriented research with clinically and biologically relevant applications.
In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and other high-quality contributions are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms of encephalitis;
- Neuroinflammation and immune responses in the central nervous system;
- Infectious causes of encephalitis, including viral, bacterial, protozoal, and fungal agents;
- Autoimmune- and immune-mediated encephalitis;
- Host–pathogen interactions in brain inflammation;
- Blood–brain barrier dysfunction and CNS invasion pathways;
- Experimental and animal models of encephalitis;
- Comparative aspects of encephalitis in humans and animals;
- Biomarkers, diagnostics, and imaging approaches;
- Emerging and established treatment strategies, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and supportive therapies.
By bringing together biological, medical, and veterinary perspectives, this Special Issue aims to advance a more comprehensive understanding of encephalitis across systems and species. We particularly welcome studies that integrate mechanistic insight with translational or comparative relevance.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Hasan Tarik Atmaca
Guest Editor
Dr. Gungor Cagdas Dincel
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- encephalitis
- neuroinflammation
- host–pathogen interactions
- central nervous system
- experimental models
- comparative medicine
- veterinary medicine
- human medicine
- molecular mechanisms
- treatment strategies
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