Dear Colleagues,

The immune system comprises a cellular and a humoral arm. Pattern recognition molecules (PRMs) are fluid-phase molecules of humoral innate immunity, and include pentraxins, collectins and ficolins. Innate immunity is evolutionarily and functionally connected with haemostasis. An inflammation-induced activation of coagulation contributes to antimicrobial defence. Platelet-derived factors and fibrin formation serve as a first line of defence by limiting bacterial growth and dissemination and regulating local inflammation. Pentraxins share dual roles related to antimicrobial defence and extracellular matrix (ECM); therefore, the recognition of ECM and microbial components is a recurrent theme in the humoral arm of the innate immune system. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) interacts with defence collagens (e.g., collectins) and fibrinogens (e.g., ficolins), molecules containing ancestral domains conserved in innate immunity and haemostasis, and exerts functions related to antimicrobial resistance, thrombosis, and tissue repair. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) acts as an opsonin for bacteria and fungi, and plays an important role in the regulation of ECM remodelling, thus affecting fibrosis. Moreover, elements of the ECM have been shown to have the opsonic activity of certain microbes. On the other hand, molecules related to haemostasis and ECM can aid the infectivity and virulence of pathogens. This Special Issue aims to provide new insights into the functioning of humoral innate immunity, with a focus on the intersection of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between innate immunity, haemostasis, and ECM in infections, thus providing different vistas for further investigation in the field. We solicit submissions in the form of primary research articles, reviews, commentaries, editorials, etc. for consideration of publication in this Special Issue.

Dr. Andrea Doni
Dr. Raffaella Parente
Dr. Ying Jie Ma
Guest Editors

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• humoral innate immunity
• pattern recognition molecules
• pentraxins
• complement system
• tumour microenvironment