Mucosal Immunity and Immune Memory: The New Frontier in Vaccination and Immunopathology

Dear Colleagues,

Mucosal immunity induced by infections or vaccinations is pivotal for protection against future infections. Mucosal surfaces such as the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts are the first line of defense and barrier protection against pathogens and harmful substances. The key components of respiratory mucosal immune response include Secretory IgA (sIgA), Goblet cells, Lymphoid tissues, and Tissue-Resident Memory (TRM) Cells. The mucosal immune response elicited by natural infection provides localized protection, whereas vaccination provides a systemic immune response. The most robust protection, with both localized and systemic immune responses, was supplied by hybrid immunity (infection + vaccination). The development of vaccines targeting mucosal immune response has been challenging due to the complexity of mucosal architecture, formulation instability, lack of adjuvants, and biological intolerance. This Special Issue will address the latest advancements and challenges in inducing robust mucosal immune responses through vaccination and minimizing immunopathological diseases.

Topic areas include the following:

• Comparison of mucosal immune response (natural infection versus vaccination);
• Development and mechanism of action of mucosal vaccines: oral, nasal and other routes of administration;
• Next-generation mucosal vaccines;
• Neo-adjuvants for mucosal vaccines;
• Delivery systems for enhancing vaccine efficacy;
• Mechanistic insights into immune memory and mucosal immunity response;
• Challenges and difficulties in mucosal vaccine research;
• Case reports for Mucosal immune response in clinical trials and surveillance studies;
• Artificial intelligence and bioinformatics in mucosal vaccine design;
• Latest technological progress and delivery methodologies.

Aligning with the journal’s broad life sciences scope, this collection will feature interdisciplinary work in immunology, virology, microbiology, and biomedicine, highlighting mechanisms, functions, and therapeutic implications of immune memory in health and disease.

Dr. Lalit Batra
Guest Editor

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