It has been more than 100 years since Robert Koch established that infectious diseases are caused by microbes. Now, numerous studies have shown that symbiotic or pathogenic microbes result in host health or disease. New pathogens frequently get discovered, and pathogens are constantly evolving to become resistant to a host’s defense mechanisms. All those new challenges require more sufficient prevention and cure. To win the arms race with pathogens, the understanding of the pathogenesis and human immunity are the most urgent topics now. Pathogen genetics determines their virulence. The host genetics regulates the host immunity. The host-pathogen-driven natural selection results in coevolution between both organisms. Therefore, it is important to study pathogen-host genetic interactions and coevolution to help improve human health and end infectious disease.
Pathogenic microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa) can cause host diseases and death. For pathogenic microbes, genetic variation directly or indirectly regulates virulence factors. The virulence factors are mainly involved in the process of colonization of a niche in the host, immunoevasion, immunosuppression, entry into and exit out of host cells, and obtaining nutrition from the host. Once the pathogen microbes start to invade the host, the host activates the process of pathogen recognition, signal transduction, and innate and adaptive immunity. All those processes are directly or indirectly regulated by host genetics. In addition, some symbiotic microbes or paratransgenesis can stop vector-borne pathogen transmission, and transgenesis can be applied to help vectors eliminate the vector-borne pathogen. Pathogen infections are possibly the major selective pressure acting on the host. Conversely, the host immune response also contributes major selective pressure on pathogen microbes. Host-pathogen-driven natural selection contributes to shaping the genetic diversity of both organisms. Our aim is to collect studies about the pathogen-host genetic interaction and coevolution to help us to develop strategies to control infectious pathogens, block pathogenic disease transmission, and promote health.
With this Research Topic, we aim to promote knowledge from recent advancements in the field of pathogen and host genetic interaction and coevolution and the use of this information to promote the health of humans and the environment and decrease the harm of pathogens. We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews that focus on:
• Host genetics: studies on genetic relationship with pathogen recognition, signal transduction, innate and adaptive immunity
• Pathogen genetics: studies on genetic variation in susceptibility to host infection
• Host-pathogen coevolution: studies on coevolutionary arms race between hosts and pathogens
• Anthropic vector transgenesis: genetic modification of the vector genome to control vector-borne disease.
• Symbiotic and paratransgenesis: studies of the effects of the microbiome on mosquito vector competence and vectorial capacity and the potential application of bacteria to tackle mosquito-borne diseases.
It has been more than 100 years since Robert Koch established that infectious diseases are caused by microbes. Now, numerous studies have shown that symbiotic or pathogenic microbes result in host health or disease. New pathogens frequently get discovered, and pathogens are constantly evolving to become resistant to a host’s defense mechanisms. All those new challenges require more sufficient prevention and cure. To win the arms race with pathogens, the understanding of the pathogenesis and human immunity are the most urgent topics now. Pathogen genetics determines their virulence. The host genetics regulates the host immunity. The host-pathogen-driven natural selection results in coevolution between both organisms. Therefore, it is important to study pathogen-host genetic interactions and coevolution to help improve human health and end infectious disease.
Pathogenic microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa) can cause host diseases and death. For pathogenic microbes, genetic variation directly or indirectly regulates virulence factors. The virulence factors are mainly involved in the process of colonization of a niche in the host, immunoevasion, immunosuppression, entry into and exit out of host cells, and obtaining nutrition from the host. Once the pathogen microbes start to invade the host, the host activates the process of pathogen recognition, signal transduction, and innate and adaptive immunity. All those processes are directly or indirectly regulated by host genetics. In addition, some symbiotic microbes or paratransgenesis can stop vector-borne pathogen transmission, and transgenesis can be applied to help vectors eliminate the vector-borne pathogen. Pathogen infections are possibly the major selective pressure acting on the host. Conversely, the host immune response also contributes major selective pressure on pathogen microbes. Host-pathogen-driven natural selection contributes to shaping the genetic diversity of both organisms. Our aim is to collect studies about the pathogen-host genetic interaction and coevolution to help us to develop strategies to control infectious pathogens, block pathogenic disease transmission, and promote health.
With this Research Topic, we aim to promote knowledge from recent advancements in the field of pathogen and host genetic interaction and coevolution and the use of this information to promote the health of humans and the environment and decrease the harm of pathogens. We welcome Original Research articles and Reviews that focus on:
• Host genetics: studies on genetic relationship with pathogen recognition, signal transduction, innate and adaptive immunity
• Pathogen genetics: studies on genetic variation in susceptibility to host infection
• Host-pathogen coevolution: studies on coevolutionary arms race between hosts and pathogens
• Anthropic vector transgenesis: genetic modification of the vector genome to control vector-borne disease.
• Symbiotic and paratransgenesis: studies of the effects of the microbiome on mosquito vector competence and vectorial capacity and the potential application of bacteria to tackle mosquito-borne diseases.
