About this Research Topic
Opportunistic fungi, such as Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus could lead to life-threatening disseminated infections and are accountable for substantial human mortality rates. Additionally, invasive fungal infections may occur concomitantly with other pathogens, as a coinfection. Besides the well-known coinfection with HIV, considered a predisposing factor for secondary fungal infections; other pathogens, for example, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, the influenza virus and even parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. have already been demonstrated in coinfections involving fungi. Given that, underlying pulmonary disease, such as bacterial and viral infections, could pose a strong risk for developing a secondary fungal infection in the lungs. The complex environment of coinfection in the host are prompt to cause tissue damage and exacerbated inflammatory response, thereby leading to increased disease severity and mortality in this population.
Coinfections could have different mechanisms of pathogenesis as well as immune responses, compared to a single infection. This scenario of coinfections brings implications for the host that can lead to either impairing or, contrastingly, improving the immune response generated in the advent of a secondary infection. For instance, in a mouse model of Pseudomonas-Cryptococcus coinfection, primary Pseudomonas infection creates a hostile environment for the fungi in the lungs, plus presents some direct antifungal activity, showing pathogen-pathogen interaction within the host to better control cryptococcosis. On the other hand, data available reinforce the importance and complications of fungal coinfection cases, particularly by the presence of secondary Aspergillosis in patients with influenza virus. Despite the profoundly significant consequences, fungal coinfections are still rarely notified and more efforts should be given considering this topic. More studies are encouraged to illuminate interactions amongst fungal-pathogen in the host and how the immune system react to coinfections in each case. Furthermore, elucidate the ideal treatment and the best strategies to manage this complex coinfection
In this Research Topic we welcome manuscript submissions that include but are not limited to the following themes listed below:
- In vivo and ex vivo models to clarify and contribute to the pathogenesis of fungal-associated coinfections.
- To disclose pathogen-pathogen interactions as well as host immune responses to fungi in coinfections.
- Clinical studies and case-reports that demonstrate coinfections involving fungi.
- Strategies for improve therapy in these complex fungal coinfection cases.
- New methods for diagnosis of fungi in combination with other pathogens as secondary infections.
Original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and brief research reports are welcome.
Coinfections could have different mechanisms of pathogenesis as well as immune responses, compared to a single infection. This scenario of coinfections brings implications for the host that can lead to either impairing or, contrastingly, improving the immune response generated in the advent of a secondary infection. For instance, in a mouse model of Pseudomonas-Cryptococcus coinfection, primary Pseudomonas infection creates a hostile environment for the fungi in the lungs, plus presents some direct antifungal activity, showing pathogen-pathogen interaction within the host to better control cryptococcosis. On the other hand, data available reinforce the importance and complications of fungal coinfection cases, particularly by the presence of secondary Aspergillosis in patients with influenza virus. Despite the profoundly significant consequences, fungal coinfections are still rarely notified and more efforts should be given considering this topic. More studies are encouraged to illuminate interactions amongst fungal-pathogen in the host and how the immune system react to coinfections in each case. Furthermore, elucidate the ideal treatment and the best strategies to manage this complex coinfection
In this Research Topic we welcome manuscript submissions that include but are not limited to the following themes listed below:
- In vivo and ex vivo models to clarify and contribute to the pathogenesis of fungal-associated coinfections.
- To disclose pathogen-pathogen interactions as well as host immune responses to fungi in coinfections.
- Clinical studies and case-reports that demonstrate coinfections involving fungi.
- Strategies for improve therapy in these complex fungal coinfection cases.
- New methods for diagnosis of fungi in combination with other pathogens as secondary infections.
Original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and brief research reports are welcome.
Keywords: Fungal coinfections, Pathogen-pathogen interactions, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Candida, Influenza virus, Bacterial infections
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.
