Polyamines, Arginine and Pathogens: From Fundamental Biology to Host-Pathogen Dynamics
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 23
Special Issue Editors
Interests: the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: molecular biology; cell biology; metabolism; host–pathogen interaction; Leishmania; Trypanosoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Arginine and its downstream metabolites, polyamines, are critical regulators of cellular function in both pathogens and their hosts. These molecules influence a wide array of biological processes, including metabolism, stress adaptation, immune modulation, and virulence. In infectious diseases, pathogens not only depend on polyamine metabolism for survival and proliferation but also manipulate host arginine and polyamine pathways to promote infection and evade immune defenses.
This Special Issue delves into the diverse and interconnected roles of arginine and polyamines in microbial physiology and host–pathogen interactions. Featuring research across bacterial, parasitic, and viral systems, it highlights recent discoveries in the fundamental biology of these pathways, their contributions to infection and immunity, and emerging strategies for therapeutic intervention. By bridging basic and translational science, this collection aims to foster a deeper understanding of arginine and polyamine biology in the context of infectious disease. We welcome authors to submit original research or review articles on topics including, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Polyamines and stress adaptation in pathogens;
- Comparative polyamine biology in bacterial, parasitic, and viral pathogens;
- Systems biology, imaging, and genetic tools to investigate arginine and polyamine pathways in infection;
- Host–pathogen competition for arginine and polyamine resources;
- Mechanisms of immune modulation via arginine or polyamine pathways;
- Crosstalk between host and microbial arginine/polyamine metabolism;
- Enzymes and transporters regulating polyamine biosynthesis and uptake in pathogens;
- Therapeutic targeting of arginine or polyamine metabolism in infectious diseases;
- Emerging inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and/or transport.
Prof. Dr. Sigrid C. Roberts
Prof. Dr. Nicola Carter
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- pathogens
- polyamines
- polyamine metabolism
- putrescine
- spermidine
- spermine
- arginase
- eiF5A
- host–pathogen interactions
- infectious diseases
- bacteria
- viruses
- parasites
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