We are constantly exposed to menaces originating from pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi (and their toxins), prions, and viroids. The development of novel biological tools for the detection of pathogens and their interaction sites with the host contributes to an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying specific diseases. Furthermore, novel biological reagents hold promise for an improved, fast, and more reliable diagnosis.
This Research Topic focuses on fusion protein-based tools for pathogen and pathogen receptor detection. Fusion proteins can comprise a simple or complex architecture. For example, a simple fluorescent protein-tagged receptor-binding domain of a pathogen can be useful to easily identify the corresponding receptor(s) on cultured cells. Likewise, a metal-binding protein tagged receptor-binding domain may be helpful for pinpointing pathogen receptors in situ in electron microscopy. An engineered sensor that detects pathogen-induced changes in a cell is an example of a more complex fusion protein. Here, we are interested in fusion proteins that enable new possibilities for pathogen research and diagnosis, in the combat against new emerging diseases.
The current Research Topic welcomes article submissions (Original Research, Reviews) related, but not limited to, the following areas:
• Fusion proteins that allow the direct or indirect detection of pathogens or pathogen receptors.
• Tagging of pathogens or pathogen receptors for research (for example to identify a pathogen target receptor in correlative light and electron microscopy).
• Fusion proteins for the detection of pathogens or pathogen receptors for the diagnosis of disease or poisoning.
Keywords: fusion proteins, microscopy, synthetic biology, pathogen tagging, pathogens, disease diagnosis, pathogen receptor
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
