Signal Transduction in Host-Fungal Pathogen Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

Fungal commensals and pathogens interact with animal hosts within tissue niches that vary in nutrition, temperature, pH and many other factors. Their success depends upon an ability to sense, adapt to and occasionally evade conditions in the host. Conversely, host defense requires a wide array of sensor systems that must activate protective immune responses, but only under the appropriate circumstances to avoid immunopathogenesis. The interplay of these programs of mutual sensing and response lies at the heart of the evolution of peaceful co-existence vs. harmful disease states. For example, fungal pathogens may respond to cell wall stress upon immune attack, alter their metabolism in response to the nutritional environment or activate virulence programs during invasion. Immune cells respond to the molecular signatures of fungal infection and tissue damage by initiating multi-layered host defenses. In both cases, the host–pathogen interaction relies on molecular sensing and signal transduction systems that collaborate to convey relevant information about the external and internal status of both host and pathogen and initiate the appropriate responses. Through comprehensive reviews, original research and novel perspectives, this Special Issue will explore recent developments in fungal and animal host signaling to better understand the host–pathogen dynamic at all mechanistic levels.

Dr. Aaron Neumann
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 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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi 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 2600 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.