Current Trends in Molecular Mechanisms of Virulence in Human Pathogenic Bacteria
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2024 | Viewed by 1023
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cell therapies; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; nanomedicine; cancer nanotherapies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Human pathogenic bacteria continue to pose a significant threat to global health, causing a myriad of infectious diseases. In recent years, extensive research has shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the virulence of these bacterial pathogens. This Special Issue aims to highlight the current trends in deciphering the intricate interplay between gene regulatory networks and the host environment that contribute to the pathogenicity of these organisms. Understanding the molecular basis of virulence is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic strategies and targeted interventions. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of identifying virulence factors that enable bacterial pathogens to subvert the host's immune defenses and establish infection. These factors often comprise a diverse array of secreted toxins, adhesins, and effector proteins, each of which is intricately regulated by complex gene regulatory networks. Advancements in high-throughput technologies, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genomics, have revolutionized the field by providing comprehensive insights into the expression patterns and functional roles of bacterial genes during infection. Researchers have identified key transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways that orchestrate virulence gene expression, allowing pathogens to adapt to various host microenvironments and evade immune surveillance. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of the host environment plays a critical role in shaping bacterial virulence. Human pathogenic bacteria have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to sense and respond to cues from the host, modulating their gene expression to adapt to different niches within the body. These adaptations may enable bacterial survival and propagation in specific tissues, such as the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, or bloodstream. Moreover, the intricate interplay between bacterial virulence factors and the host's immune response has been a subject of intense investigation. Recent findings highlight the delicate balance between bacterial immune evasion strategies and host defense mechanisms, providing potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions.
This Special Issue aims to cover recent advances in all the various aspects of this rapidly evolving field, offering valuable perspectives from experts working therein. Understanding these intricate interactions will continue to play a pivotal role in the development of targeted antimicrobial therapies, vaccines, and preventive strategies against infectious diseases, ultimately improving global public health.
Dr. Aldo Nicosia
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- mechanisms of virulence
- gene regulatory networks
- host–pathogen interaction
- gene regulation
- virulence factors
- high-throughput technologies
