Leptospira and Leptospirosis: Pathogenesis and Biology Research

Dear Colleagues,

Leptospirosis is a globally re-emerging bacterial zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira, which infects a broad range of mammals. Leptospira interrogans is the predominant pathogenic species in the genus, responsible for human leptospirosis cases and the most severe clinical manifestations of the disease. The disease exhibits a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from subclinical or mild flu-like illness to severe, life-threatening forms such as Weil’s syndrome, characterized by jaundice, acute kidney injury, hepatic dysfunction, meningitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure.

The maintenance of these spirochetes in nature relies on chronic renal colonization of asymptomatic reservoir hosts, especially rodents, which continuously shed viable bacteria into the environment through urine, representing a long-term source of infection for humans and a wide range of mammalian species. Recent research has concentrated on unraveling the virulence determinants, pathogenic pathways, secretion systems, and physiological adaptations of Leptospira, as well as on developing genetic tools, optimizing culture conditions, and identifying environmental factors that sustain bacterial survival, dissemination, and infectivity beyond the host environment

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that improve our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of Leptospira, spanning from fundamental molecular processes to translational applications in diagnosis and treatment. As the Guest Editor, I invite original research and comprehensive reviews covering topics such as the following:

• Virulence mechanisms and pathogenesis of Leptospira;
• Host–pathogen interactions and immune evasion strategies;
• Role of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in Leptospira physiology and virulence;
• Signal transduction and second messenger systems, including c-di-GMP and related regulatory networks;
• Innovative diagnostic tools and novel biomarkers for improved detection and disease monitoring;
• Therapeutic approaches and identification of new antimicrobial targets;
• Integrative bioinformatics, structural biology, and systems-based approaches to elucidate protein function and molecular assemblies.

Dr. Cristiane Rodrigues Guzzo
Guest Editor

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