This Research Topic is the second volume of "The Fundamental Biology of Basophils in Health and Disease". Please see volume I here.

The field of immunology has long been intrigued by the multifaceted roles of basophils, a type of circulating basophilic granulocyte. These hematopoietic cells, found across various animal species, including invertebrates, are known for their ability to release a wide array of bioactive molecules. In mammals, basophils are particularly noted for their involvement in type 2 immunity, where they play protective roles against helminth infections and tick infestations, as well as pathogenic roles in allergic and autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have highlighted their bactericidal properties and their ability to promote pathogenic Th17 responses. Despite these insights, the full spectrum of basophil functions, especially their "innate" roles in immunity and non-immune physiological processes, remains underexplored. Current research has begun to unravel the mechanisms of basophil activation, both antibody-dependent and independent, yet significant gaps persist in understanding their evolutionary significance and broader physiological roles.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the fundamental biology of basophils in health and disease. By exploring the diverse functions and mechanisms of basophils, the research seeks to answer critical questions about their roles in immunity and beyond. The objective is to gather comprehensive insights into how basophils contribute to both protective and deleterious immune responses and to elucidate their potential involvement in non-immune processes.

To gather further insights into the complex biology of basophils, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Population-level studies such as Epidemiology, Immunogenetics, or Evolutionary Immunology
- Organism-level investigations including Systems Biology, Microbiome-Immune crosstalks, Physiology, and Physiopathology, Allergy, and Autoimmunity
- Organ-level research on Infectious Diseases, Inflammation, Neuroimmunology, Fibrosis, and Remodeling
- Cellular-level studies focusing on Cell Biology, Hematopoiesis, and Intercellular communications
- Molecular-level analyses involving Multi-Omics and Cell Signaling

Topic Editor Juan Manuel Leyva-Castillo is employed by Areteia Therapeutics. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Community Series in The Fundamental Biology of Basophils in Health and Disease - Volume II