Microbial Infections and Host Immunity

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2174

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Interests: immunology; inflammation; probiotics; antimicrobial responses; infection; oral and gastrointestinal mucosae

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue on “Microbial Infections and Host Immunity” aims to shed light on the intricate interactions between microbial pathogens and the host immune system. This Special Issue seeks to explore the latest advancements in the understanding the mechanisms behind microbial infections and the corresponding host immune responses. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that investigate the pathogenesis of various microbial infections, the development of novel treatment strategies, and the host immune system’s role in combating these infections. We encourage submissions that tackle fundamental questions in microbiology and immunology, as well as those that offer clinical insights relevant to human health. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this Special Issue endeavours to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in microbial infections and host immunity. Submissions are expected to provide valuable contributions to the academic community, advancing our understanding of these interrelated fields.

Dr. Andrew Foey
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microbial pathogens
  • host immunity
  • infections
  • mechanisms
  • treatment strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2642 KiB  
Article
Molecular Insights into Cell-Mediated Immunity in Atypical Non-Ulcerated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
by Luís Fábio S. Batista, Carmen M. Sandoval Pacheco, Gabriela V. Araujo Flores, Frederico M. Ferreira, André N. A. Gonçalves, Wilfredo H. Sosa-Ochoa, Vânia L. R. da Matta, Claudia M. C. Gomes, Concepción Zúniga, Carlos E. P. Corbett, Daniel C. Jeffares, Helder I. Nakaya, Fernando T. Silveira and Márcia D. Laurenti
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020413 - 13 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi infections range from asymptomatic (AS) to severe visceral leishmaniasis (VL). One of the manifestations is an atypical non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL), which occurs in some locations of Central America with few cases of VL. We conducted a [...] Read more.
Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi infections range from asymptomatic (AS) to severe visceral leishmaniasis (VL). One of the manifestations is an atypical non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL), which occurs in some locations of Central America with few cases of VL. We conducted a transcriptomic analysis of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) on blood samples from NUCL, AS, VL patients from Amapala, Honduras, and healthy controls. RNA-seq revealed a similar perturbation of gene expression in NUCL and AS. Eight gene signatures of CMI were found in NUCL involved in CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration, reactive oxygen species generation, PD-1 receptor ligand, inflammasome assembly, chemotaxis, complement receptor and suppressor immune cell infiltration. NUCL was distinguished from VL by its up-regulation of differently expressed genes (DEGs) related to T lymphocyte exhaustion, adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes, and down-regulation of oxidative stress genes. In contrast, VL exhibited up-regulated DEGs involved in antigen cross-presentation, and similar to VL from Brazil, down-regulated DEGs involved in innate immunity. Corroborating the transcriptome findings, both the Leishmanin skin test, and the immunopathology of NUCL skin lesion defined NUCL as a proinflammatory condition, intermediate between the AS and VL clinical outcomes. That condition may be the underlying element for the benign nature of the NUCL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Host Immunity)
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19 pages, 9063 KiB  
Article
NcSWP8, a New Spore Wall Protein, Interacts with Polar Tube Proteins in the Parasitic Microsporidia Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae
by Pengfei Wang, Dufu Li, Qianmin Hai, Siming Liu, Yueyue Zhang, Jun Zhang, Jinshan Xu, Zhengang Ma and Zeyang Zhou
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010142 - 12 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae is a pathogen that affects Apis mellifera and Apis ceranae Fabricius, capable of spreading within and between honeybee colonies. The spore wall of microsporidia is the initial structure to contact the host cell directly, which may play a crucial role [...] Read more.
Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae is a pathogen that affects Apis mellifera and Apis ceranae Fabricius, capable of spreading within and between honeybee colonies. The spore wall of microsporidia is the initial structure to contact the host cell directly, which may play a crucial role in the infection process. Currently, several spore wall proteins have been identified in microsporidia, but only two spore wall proteins from V. ceranae have been characterized. Here, we report the expression and identification of a novel spore wall protein, NcSWP8, with a molecular mass of 21.37 kDa in V. ceranae. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that NcSWP8 was localized on the spore wall of V. ceranae. Co-immunoprecipitation and Far-Western blotting experiments demonstrated that NcSWP8 could stably interact with polar tube proteins, NcPTP2 and NcPTP3. The antibody blocking assay significantly decreased their infection rate, indicating that NcSWP8 played a significant role in the process of V. ceranae infection. These results together suggested that NcSWP8 was a new spore wall protein localized to the spore wall and interacted with the polar tube proteins, playing a crucial role in supporting the formation of the spore wall and potentially affecting the process of infection of V. ceranae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Host Immunity)
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