Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
4.5
Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria
share announcement

Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 19626

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fabio Verginelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
Interests: cancer-related infections; oncomodulatory mechanisms of microbial infections; multi-drug resistance; virus isolation and genomic characterization; evolution of human pathogens; phylogenetic analysis of pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shimaa Hassan AbdelAziz Soliman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Interests: viral transcription; epigenetics; histone post translational modifications; transcription factors; chromatin remodeling
Dr. Diana Liberata Esposito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, and Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: signal transduction pathways; viral carcinogenesis; microRNA in cancer biology; gene expression profiling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Approximately 15–20% of all human cancers are caused by viral and bacterial infections and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified eight pathogens as human carcinogens (including seven viruses and one bacterium), such as the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HBC), Kaposi’s sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV), human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1, as a co-factor of AIDS-associated cancers), human papillomavirus (HPV), human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), and the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Furthermore, the potential oncogenic role of additional infections is under investigation.

These viral and bacterial infections can contribute to oncogenic mechanisms by an interplay between pathogenic factors and host cell processes, and are involved in several hallmarks of cancer. Notably, links between infection and cancer types have already provided actionable opportunities to reduce the global impact of cancer, such as the vaccine to prevent the HPV-associated cancers.

In this context, the aim of this Special Issue is to collect any contributions on the role of viruses and bacteria in cancer. Original research papers, review articles, or short communications on the topic are welcome.

Dr. Fabio Verginelli
Dr. Shimaa Hassan AbdelAziz Soliman
Dr. Diana Liberata Esposito
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infection-related cancer
  • viral carcinogenesis
  • bacterial carcinogenesis
  • mechanisms of oncogenesis
  • host–pathogen interaction
  • cancer epigenetics

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 1039 KiB  
Article
Human Papillomavirus in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Assessing Virus Presence in Tumor and Normal Tissues and Its Clinical Relevance
by Matvey M. Tsyganov, Marina K. Ibragimova, Evgeniy O. Rodionov, Olga V. Cheremisina, Sergei V. Miller, Sergei A. Tuzikov and Nikolai V. Litvyakov
Microorganisms 2023, 11(1), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11010212 - 14 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1442
Abstract
The significance of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of lung cancer remains an open question. The data from the literature do not provide conclusive evidence of HPV being involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. The aim of this [...] Read more.
The significance of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of lung cancer remains an open question. The data from the literature do not provide conclusive evidence of HPV being involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. The aim of this work was to detect the presence of HPV infections with a high carcinogenic risk in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods: the study involved 274 patients with stage IIA–IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. We analyzed normal and tumor tissues as well as blood from each patient. DNA was extracted from patients’ specimens, and HPV detection and genotyping was carried out using commercially available kits by PCR. Results: HPV was detected in 12.7% of the patients (35/274 of all cases). We detected nine different types of human papillomavirus in the patients, namely, types 16, 18, 31, 35, 45, 51, 52, 56, and 59. The HPV-positive samples had a clinically insignificant viral load and were predominantly integrated. The relationship between the presence of HPV and its virological parameters and the clinical and pathological parameters of the patients was established. A metastatic-free survival analysis showed that all patients with HPV in the tumor tissue had a higher 5-year survival rate (94%) compared with the HPV-negative patients (78%). The result was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Conclusions: data showing a 12.7% human papillomavirus representation among patients with non-small cell lung cancer were obtained. The presence/absence of a viral component in patients with lung cancer was a clinically significant parameter. HPV types 16, 18, and 56, which are the most oncogenic, were most often detected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 1073 KiB  
Review
The Role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in Oral and Colorectal Carcinogenesis
by Pamela Pignatelli, Federica Nuccio, Adriano Piattelli and Maria Cristina Curia
Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2358; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092358 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3631
Abstract
In recent years, several studies have suggested a strong association of microorganisms with several human cancers. Two periodontopathogenic species in particular have been mentioned frequently: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Chronic periodontal disease has been reported to be [...] Read more.
In recent years, several studies have suggested a strong association of microorganisms with several human cancers. Two periodontopathogenic species in particular have been mentioned frequently: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Chronic periodontal disease has been reported to be a risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic cancer. F. nucleatum is a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that lives in the oral cavity, urogenital, intestinal and upper digestive tract. It plays a significant role as a co-aggregation factor, with almost all bacterial species that participate in oral plaque formation acting as a bridge between early and late colonizers. F. nucleatum, gives an important inflammatory contribution to tumorigenesis progression and is associated with epithelial-derived malignancies, such as OSCC and CRC. F. nucleatum produces an adhesion protein, FadA, which binds to VE-cadherin on endothelial cells and to E-cadherins on epithelial cells. The last binding activates oncogenic pathways, such as Wnt/βcatenin, in oral and colorectal carcinogenesis. F. nucleatum also affects immune response because its Fap2 protein interacts with an immune receptor named TIGIT present on some T cells and natural killer cells inhibiting immune cells activities. Morover, F. nucleatum release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and initiating inflammation. F. nucleatum migrates from the oral cavity and reaches the colon hematogenously but it is not known if in the bloodstream it reaches the CRC as free, erythrocyte-bound bacteria or in OMV. F. nucleatum abundance in CRC tissue has been inversely correlated with overall survival (OS). The prevention and treatment of periodontal disease through the improvement of oral hygiene should be included in cancer prevention protocols. FadA virulence factors may also serve as novel targets for therapeutic intervention of oral and colorectal cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 789 KiB  
Review
Infectious Agents Induce Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Deregulation in Primary Liver Cancers
by Teresa Catalano, Federico Selvaggi, Diana Liberata Esposito, Roberto Cotellese and Gitana Maria Aceto
Microorganisms 2023, 11(7), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071632 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2113
Abstract
Interaction between infectious agents and liver tissue, as well as repeated and extreme biological events beyond adaptive capacities, may result in pathological conditions predisposing people to development of primary liver cancers (PLCs). In adults, PLCs mainly comprise hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). [...] Read more.
Interaction between infectious agents and liver tissue, as well as repeated and extreme biological events beyond adaptive capacities, may result in pathological conditions predisposing people to development of primary liver cancers (PLCs). In adults, PLCs mainly comprise hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Various infectious agents in the hepatic microenvironment can destabilize normal liver cell functions by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway components. Among them, hepatotropic viruses B, C, and D are involved in Wnt/β-catenin signaling dysregulation. Other microbial agents, including oncogenic viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papilloma virus (HPV), bacteria, e.g., Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Salmonella Typhi, the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the fungus Aspergillus flavus, and liver flukes such as Clonorchissinensis or Opisthorchis viverrini, may induce malignant transformation in hepatocytes or in target cells of the biliary tract through aberrant Wnt signaling activation. This review focuses on new insights into infectious agents implicated in the deregulation of Wnt signaling and PLC development. Since the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a driver of cancer following viral and bacterial infections, molecules inhibiting the complex axis of Wnt signaling could represent novel therapeutic approaches in PLC treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 427 KiB  
Review
The Immune Response Generated against HPV Infection in Men and Its Implications in the Diagnosis of Cancer
by Lilia Chihu-Amparan, Adolfo Pedroza-Saavedra and Lourdes Gutierrez-Xicotencatl
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1609; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061609 - 18 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2708
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with precancerous lesions and cancer of the genital tract both in women and men. The high incidence of cervical cancer worldwide focused the research on this infection mainly in women and to a lesser extent in men. [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with precancerous lesions and cancer of the genital tract both in women and men. The high incidence of cervical cancer worldwide focused the research on this infection mainly in women and to a lesser extent in men. In this review, we summarized epidemiological, immunological, and diagnostic data associated with HPV and cancer in men. We presented an overview of the main characteristics of HPV and infection in men that are associated with different types of cancer but also associated with male infertility. Men are considered important vectors of HPV transmission to women; therefore, identifying the sexual and social behavioral risk factors associated with HPV infection in men is critical to understand the etiology of the disease. It is also essential to describe how the immune response develops in men during HPV infection or when vaccinated, since this knowledge could help to control the viral transmission to women, decreasing the incidence of cervical cancer, but also could reduce other HPV-associated cancers among men who have sex with men (MSM). Finally, we summarized the methods used over time to detect and genotype HPV genomes, as well as some diagnostic tests that use cellular and viral biomarkers that were identified in HPV-related cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
21 pages, 1150 KiB  
Review
Helicobacter pylori and Its Role in Gastric Cancer
by Victor E. Reyes
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051312 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
Gastric cancer is a challenging public health concern worldwide and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The primary risk factor implicated in gastric cancer development is infection with Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori induces chronic inflammation affecting the gastric epithelium, which can [...] Read more.
Gastric cancer is a challenging public health concern worldwide and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The primary risk factor implicated in gastric cancer development is infection with Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori induces chronic inflammation affecting the gastric epithelium, which can lead to DNA damage and the promotion of precancerous lesions. Disease manifestations associated with H. pylori are attributed to virulence factors with multiple activities, and its capacity to subvert host immunity. One of the most significant H. pylori virulence determinants is the cagPAI gene cluster, which encodes a type IV secretion system and the CagA toxin. This secretion system allows H. pylori to inject the CagA oncoprotein into host cells, causing multiple cellular perturbations. Despite the high prevalence of H. pylori infection, only a small percentage of affected individuals develop significant clinical outcomes, while most remain asymptomatic. Therefore, understanding how H. pylori triggers carcinogenesis and its immune evasion mechanisms is critical in preventing gastric cancer and mitigating the burden of this life-threatening disease. This review aims to provide an overview of our current understanding of H. pylori infection, its association with gastric cancer and other gastric diseases, and how it subverts the host immune system to establish persistent infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2855 KiB  
Review
Competing Endogenous RNA (ceRNA) Networks and Splicing Switches in Cervical Cancer: HPV Oncogenesis, Clinical Significance and Therapeutic Opportunities
by Afra Basera, Rodney Hull, Demetra Demetriou, David Owen Bates, Andreas Martin Kaufmann, Zodwa Dlamini and Rahaba Marima
Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091852 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2943
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is the primary cause of female cancer fatalities in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Persistent infections from the human papillomavirus (HPV) can result in cervical cancer. However, numerous different factors influence the development and progression of cervical cancer. Transcriptomic knowledge of the [...] Read more.
Cervical cancer (CC) is the primary cause of female cancer fatalities in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Persistent infections from the human papillomavirus (HPV) can result in cervical cancer. However, numerous different factors influence the development and progression of cervical cancer. Transcriptomic knowledge of the mechanisms with which HPV causes cervical cancer pathogenesis is growing. Nonetheless, there is an existing gap hindering the development of therapeutic approaches and the improvement of patient outcomes. Alternative splicing allows for the production of numerous RNA transcripts and protein isoforms from a single gene, increasing the transcriptome and protein diversity in eukaryotes. Cancer cells exhibit astounding transcriptome modifications by expressing cancer-specific splicing isoforms. High-risk HPV uses cellular alternative splicing events to produce viral and host splice variants and proteins that drive cancer progression or contribute to distinct cancer hallmarks. Understanding how viruses utilize alternative splicing to drive pathogenesis and tumorigenesis is essential. Although research into the role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis is advancing, the function of other non-coding RNAs, including lncRNA and circRNA, has been understudied. Through their interaction with mRNA, non-coding RNAs form a network of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), which regulate gene expression and promote cervical cancer development and advancement. The dysregulated expression of non-coding RNAs is an understudied and tangled process that promotes cervical cancer development. This review will present the role of aberrant alternative splicing and immunosuppression events in HPV-mediated cervical tumorigenesis, and ceRNA network regulation in cervical cancer pathogenesis will also be discussed. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of splicing disruptor drugs in cervical cancer will be deliberated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1453 KiB  
Review
Viral Encoded miRNAs in Tumorigenesis: Theranostic Opportunities in Precision Oncology
by Rodney Hull, Rahaba Marima, Mohammed Alaouna, Demetra Demetriou, Rui Manuel Reis, Thulo Molefi and Zodwa Dlamini
Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1448; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071448 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2006
Abstract
About 15% of all human cancers have a viral etiology. Although progress has been made, understanding the viral oncogenesis and associated molecular mechanisms remain complex. The discovery of cellular miRNAs has led to major breakthroughs. Interestingly, viruses have also been discovered to encode [...] Read more.
About 15% of all human cancers have a viral etiology. Although progress has been made, understanding the viral oncogenesis and associated molecular mechanisms remain complex. The discovery of cellular miRNAs has led to major breakthroughs. Interestingly, viruses have also been discovered to encode their own miRNAs. These viral, small, non-coding miRNAs are also known as viral-miRNAs (v-miRNAs). Although the function of v-miRNAs largely remains to be elucidated, their role in tumorigenesis cannot be ignored. V-miRNAs have also been shown to exploit the cellular machinery to benefit viral replication and survival. Although the discovery of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and its viral miRNAs, is a work in progress, the existence of HPV-, EBV-, HBV-, MCPyV- and KSHV-encoded miRNA has been documented. V-miRNAs have been shown to target host factors to advance tumorigenesis, evade and suppress the immune system, and deregulate both the cell cycle and the apoptotic machinery. Although the exact mechanisms of v-miRNAs-induced tumorigenesis are still unclear, v-miRNAs are active role-players in tumorigenesis, viral latency and cell transformation. Furthermore, v-miRNAs can function as posttranscriptional gene regulators of both viral and host genes. Thus, it has been proposed that v-miRNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancers with a viral etiology. Although significant challenges exist in their clinical application, emerging reports demonstrate their potent role in precision medicine. This review will focus on the roles of HPV-, HCV-, EBV-, HBV-, MCPyV-, and KSHV-produced v-miRNAs in tumorigenesis, as effectors in immune evasion, as diagnostic biomarkers and as novel anti-cancer therapeutic targets. Finally, it will discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with v-miRNAs theranostics in precision oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Role of Viruses and Bacteria)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop