Novel Discoveries in the Development of Vaccines against Mycobacterial Infections

Dear Colleagues,

Pulmonary diseases due to mycobacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality to human health. Mycobacterial lung infections are caused by mycobacteria, that includes the causative-agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. There are also nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), ubiquitous in soil, water, and food. NTM are usually harmless to people but for unknown reasons, NTM lung infections are becoming more common in the developed world, including the United States, particularly in the Southwest (including southern California), Southeast and Hawaii. Recent epidemiological studies have shown the emergence of NTM species in causing lung diseases in humans. Although more than 170 NTM species are present in various environmental niches, only a handful, primarily Mycobacterium avium complex and M. abscessus, have been implicated in pulmonary disease. Following inhalation, NTM are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages in the lungs. Subsequently, various immune cells are recruited from the circulation to the site of infection, which leads to granuloma formation. Although the pathophysiology of TB and NTM diseases share several fundamental cellular and molecular events, the host-susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and NTM infections are different. Striking differences also exist in the disease presentation between TB and NTM cases. While NTM disease is primarily associated with bronchiectasis, this condition is rarely a predisposing factor for TB. Similarly, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, NTM disease presents as disseminated, extrapulmonary form rather than as a miliary, pulmonary disease, which is seen in Mtb infection. Active infections with NTM can lead to structural and immunological lung complications including granuloma formation, fibrosis, and T cell exhaustion, less is known about the disease course when coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is present. Past and present research demonstrate that IL-10, TNF-α, IFN class I-III, TGF-β, IL-35, and Regulatory T cells (T-regs) are all important contributors of the characteristics of host response to mycobacterial infections. Leprosy caused by M. leprae is also an important global health concern. Endemic mostly to tropical underdeveloped and developing countries, most commonly Brazil and India, M. leprae is transmitted mainly by entry through the nasal mucosa into the upper airway, which constitutes one of the most important entry routes. M. leprae is a non-culturable, obligate intracellular pathogen that causes a chronic granulomatous infection characterized predominantly by peripheral nerve damage and prominent skin lesions known as Leprosy or Hansen’s disease. Infection of peripheral nerves by M. leprae is a hallmark of leprous neuropathy, causing sensory, motor, and autonomic disability, thus making it one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy worldwide. The aim of this comprehensive special issue is put together cutting-edge research findings and reviews on: 

• Development of novel vaccines for tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacteria and/or M. leprae infections
• The recent advances in the understanding of the host immune responses against tuberculous, non-tuberculous mycobacteria and/or M. leprae infections
• Pathogenesis in tuberculous, non-tuberculous mycobacteria and/or M. leprae infections
• Novel therapies for non-tuberculous mycobacteria and/or M. leprae infections
• Prevention of tuberculous, non-tuberculous mycobacteria and/or M. leprae infections
• COVID-related disruptions in managing vaccinations against tuberculosis I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman
Guest Editor

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• vaccine
• adjunctive therapy
• tuberculous mycobacteria
• non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• M. leprae
• host-directed therapy