Over the last 50 years, we have experienced two large pandemics caused by two viruses: HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Both these enveloped viruses are positive single-stranded RNA viruses, and transmission has been from animals to humans, and thus, spreading efficiently from one host to another. The viruses not only differ in their mode of transmission, but also in the symptoms they generate. However, both use mucosal sites to penetrate the body and infect individuals. HIV is mainly a sexually transmitted virus, with the genital mucosa being the major site of the initial infection before spreading into circulation (although the virus can form mucosal reservoirs). Whilst, SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets and infects the nose and the lung, with the respiratory tract playing a major role in the infection.
One of the relevant questions regarding these two pandemics is the magnitude, specificity and the role played by mucosal immune responses. Until now, major research efforts have focused on understanding the systemic immune responses, whereas mucosal immune responses have remained largely neglected.
Understanding the relationship between mucosal immune responses against HIV and SARS- CoV-2 have important public health implications. The study of mucosal repertoire specific for HIV and SAR-CoV-2 can offer tools for a better understanding of immune pathogenesis induced by these two viruses, and can help in designing more specific and efficient therapies and vaccines. Up to now, no efficient HIV vaccine is available clinically and only few studies on specific mucosal vaccine, although promising, have been performed. The available COVID-19 vaccines are very efficient against severe COVID-19 development but do not fully block infection, nor transmission, and appear not able to raise a long lasting circulatory immunity. Limited studies on SARS-CoV-2 mucosal vaccines are currently being tested in humans as of November 2021, appear promising for blocking transmission in pre-clinical models.
This special issue aims to collect reviews and original research from scientists of all backgrounds, focusing on mucosal immune responses against these two pandemic viruses. We wish to examine different aspects of the mucosal immune system, including T cells, macrophage, dendritic cells and epithelial cells. The antibody response is a key determinant of control of infection, if elicited through vaccination or through prior infection, and it may also play a role in the control of virus replication in infected individuals. The actual role of IgAs that usually represent the first line of defence against microbial mucosal invasion, in infection, either acute or long lasting, and vaccine strategies need to be evaluated.
Over the last 50 years, we have experienced two large pandemics caused by two viruses: HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Both these enveloped viruses are positive single-stranded RNA viruses, and transmission has been from animals to humans, and thus, spreading efficiently from one host to another. The viruses not only differ in their mode of transmission, but also in the symptoms they generate. However, both use mucosal sites to penetrate the body and infect individuals. HIV is mainly a sexually transmitted virus, with the genital mucosa being the major site of the initial infection before spreading into circulation (although the virus can form mucosal reservoirs). Whilst, SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets and infects the nose and the lung, with the respiratory tract playing a major role in the infection.
One of the relevant questions regarding these two pandemics is the magnitude, specificity and the role played by mucosal immune responses. Until now, major research efforts have focused on understanding the systemic immune responses, whereas mucosal immune responses have remained largely neglected.
Understanding the relationship between mucosal immune responses against HIV and SARS- CoV-2 have important public health implications. The study of mucosal repertoire specific for HIV and SAR-CoV-2 can offer tools for a better understanding of immune pathogenesis induced by these two viruses, and can help in designing more specific and efficient therapies and vaccines. Up to now, no efficient HIV vaccine is available clinically and only few studies on specific mucosal vaccine, although promising, have been performed. The available COVID-19 vaccines are very efficient against severe COVID-19 development but do not fully block infection, nor transmission, and appear not able to raise a long lasting circulatory immunity. Limited studies on SARS-CoV-2 mucosal vaccines are currently being tested in humans as of November 2021, appear promising for blocking transmission in pre-clinical models.
This special issue aims to collect reviews and original research from scientists of all backgrounds, focusing on mucosal immune responses against these two pandemic viruses. We wish to examine different aspects of the mucosal immune system, including T cells, macrophage, dendritic cells and epithelial cells. The antibody response is a key determinant of control of infection, if elicited through vaccination or through prior infection, and it may also play a role in the control of virus replication in infected individuals. The actual role of IgAs that usually represent the first line of defence against microbial mucosal invasion, in infection, either acute or long lasting, and vaccine strategies need to be evaluated.
