Molecular Mechanisms of Infectious Pathogen Adaptation, Emergence, and Re-emergence

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogen emergence is a complex phenomenon due to multiple factors, like genetic adaptations, selective pressure by the human host, and antibiotic or antiviral pressure. Among re-emerging respiratory pathogens, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death by infection, especially in immunocompromised patients (e.g., those with HIV). Rising rates of TB antibiotic resistance have been recorded around the world, making these bacteria immune to anti-TB drugs. TB can persist in many infected individuals in a latent state for many years and can be reactivated to cause disease. Children and adults with other disease like HIV are more prone to being affected. In most healthy people, the immune system can destroy the bacteria, whereas in some cases, TB infection begins without symptoms before becoming active (latent TB) and can persist for weeks, months, or years. New antibacterial strategies are needed to manage the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance in TB infection, to tackle both active TB and the threat of M. tuberculosis resuscitation. Also, the ESKAPE group of pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, A. baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) are leading causes of nosocomial infections, with some of them declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as critical, owing to their formidable adaptability and resistance to antimicrobial therapies. Adaptation mechanisms to drugs and to the host are also the ace in the hole of pandemic viruses, like SARS-CoV2, which exploit the host to enhance their viral infecting efficacy.

To address all these issues, comprehensive knowledge of important macromolecules regulating pathogen physiopathology is essential. In the last few decades, extensive studies have been performed aimed at the structural and functional characterization of the key molecular players involved virulence and adaptation to either drugs or to their hosts. This Special Issue offers an open access platform that aims to bring together a collection of research articles, reviews, and perspectives to address various aspects of pathogen emergence and re-emergence and the development of therapeutic tools against difficult pathogens.

Dr. Rita Berisio
Dr. Alessia Ruggiero
Guest Editors

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• pathogen
• structural biology
• tuberculosis
• function
• molecular mechanism

• Virulence Factors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection: Structural and Functional Studies in Biomolecules (7 articles)