Host-Pathogen Interactions in Mucosal Immunology

Covered with a layer of epithelial cells on the surface, the mucosa, in cooperation with its innate immune mechanisms such as mucus and mucociliary clearance, provides a first line of defense against pathogens that enter the host body across mucosal surfaces. The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs), with a large part being the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs), constitute 70% of the human immune system. GALT-associated epithelia contain microfold (M) cells, constantly sampling and delivering luminal antigens to the antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within or underlining the mucosal epithelia. The APCs uptake and process the antigens from the lumen and present to T cells, a subset of which in turn prime and activate B cells to initiate the complex mucosal immune responses. Traits of mucosal immune responses distinguish them from the systemic immune responses that represent the main stream of immunological investigations, yet the mucosal immune responses could be particularly important against pathogens that invade the mucosa or enter through mucosal portals.


Despite the importance of MALTs against the variety of pathogens that commonly invade mucosa or through mucosal portals, research in mucosal immunology has been difficult to progress because MALTs involve tissues that are far more complex than peripheral blood and typically not readily available for research, especially clinical specimens. For these reasons, data derived from the in vivo animal models and clinical specimens are invaluable to advance our understanding of the molecular basis in host-pathogen interactions in mucosal immunology. Consequently, preventions and interventions are generally lacking that target mucosal sites. Recent advances in mucosal immunology are limited in interactions between mucosal epithelial cells and immune cells, development of targeted mucosal vaccines, and exploration of nasal sprays as a delivery tool for vaccines, prophylactics, and therapeutics. Hence, the goal here is to encourage, promote, and publish impactful findings from both basic and translational research that target the host-pathogen interactions in mucosal sites and potentially bring prophylactics and therapeutics to the clinic.


The Research Topic of Host-Pathogen Interactions in Mucosal Immunology would welcome manuscripts on both basic and translational studies on pathogen-induced inflammation, immunity, and immunology related to the mucosal sites, such as the eye, oral nasopharyngeal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and genitourinary tracts. The well-known mucosal pathogens include, but not limited to:

• Respiratory bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses

• Oral bacteria, fungi, and viruses

• Enteric bacteria, fungi, and viruses

• Sexually transmitted bacteria, fungi, and viruses

• Eye infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses

The types of manuscripts include Original Research, Review, Case Report, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Opinion, and Commentary.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Pathogens, Gastrointestinal, Pulmonary, Genitourinary, Mucosal secretion, IgA

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.