Microbial secretomes, the collection of proteins released by microorganisms, play a pivotal role in host-pathogen interactions and significantly impact disease evolution. These secreted proteins, which include those shed from the cell membrane, extracellular matrix proteins, and vesicle proteins, are dynamic and responsive to environmental stimuli and pathological conditions. Recent advancements in proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles have expanded our understanding of the extracellular functions of intracellular proteins. Microbial secretomes are crucial in pathogen infection processes, as they can alter host cell environments, suppress immune responses, and facilitate infection spread. Identifying these secretory proteins is vital for discovering vaccine candidates, potential drug targets, and diagnostic biomarkers. Despite significant progress, there remain gaps in understanding the full spectrum of secretome functions and their implications in disease pathogenesis, necessitating further investigation into their roles in cellular adhesion, invasion, proliferation, and immune evasion.

This research topic aims to elucidate the role of microbial secreted proteins in host-pathogen interactions and their impact on disease development, particularly focusing on pathogenic microorganisms that pose significant public health threats. The primary objective is to leverage cutting-edge proteomics approaches to detect microbial secreted proteins that act as virulence factors in disease evolution. By characterizing these proteins, the research seeks to uncover how they exploit host cells, suppress defense responses, alter vesicular trafficking, and manipulate gene expression. Ultimately, the goal is to identify novel target biomarkers for diagnostic methods and develop improved vaccines, thereby enhancing public health outcomes.

To gather further insights into the role of microbial secretomes in host-pathogen interactions and disease progression, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Identification of microbial antigenic secreted proteins using advanced genomic and proteomic approaches.
- Examination of the influence of secreted proteins on disease etiology, tissue tropism, and immune-escaping properties of microorganisms.
- Exploration of secretome screening in identifying novel antimicrobial inhibitors and potential drug targets.
- Development of diagnostic tools for animal and human pathogens through immune epitope analysis and functional diversity of microbial secretomes.
- Bioinformatics-based screening of microbial secreted proteins for novel vaccine candidate development.
- Identification of differentially expressed proteins involved in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases.

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

The Role of Microbial Secretomes in Host-Pathogen Interaction and Their Impact on Disease Evolution