Host Immune Response to Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 14263

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States
Interests: animal model development; emerging infectious diseases; zoonotic diseases; viral immunology; viral pathogenesis; neurotropic viruses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Development of effective vaccines against an infectious agent that induces disease requires a comprehensive understanding of the host’s immune response towards that pathogen. Successful control of an infection is accomplished through the cooperation of multiple components of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, with different pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, each eliciting unique, complex responses. Factors that influence these responses may be inherent to the host, such as age, sex, and genetics, or stem from the environment, such as living or husbandry conditions, hygiene practices, nutrition status, and the microbiome. Furthermore, while the host immune system is responsible for eliminating the pathogen, it may also cause damage to the organism it is working to protect. In this special issue, we welcome articles examining the immune response to a variety of human and veterinary pathogens and its impact on our understanding and ability to develop effective vaccines. Topics of interest include the host immune response to infection, intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence this response, and immune-mediated pathology that sometimes results.

Prof. Dr. Victoria K. Baxter
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • host immune response
  • pathogenesis
  • animal models of infectious disease
  • innate immune response
  • adaptive immune response
  • immunopathology

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2892 KiB  
Article
Proteomic Analysis of ISGylation in Immortalized Porcine Alveolar Macrophage Cell Lines Induced by Type I Interferon
by Chengbo Zhu, Jingrui Li, Chaonan Tian, Mengmeng Qin, Zhenni Wang, Bingjun Shi, Guanggang Qu, Chunyan Wu and Yuchen Nan
Vaccines 2021, 9(2), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020164 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2914
Abstract
Interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15), a ubiquitin-like molecule, can be conjugated to protein substrates through a reversible process known as ISGylation. ISG15 and ISGylation are both strongly upregulated by type I interferons and play putative key roles in host innate immunity against viral [...] Read more.
Interferon-stimulated gene product 15 (ISG15), a ubiquitin-like molecule, can be conjugated to protein substrates through a reversible process known as ISGylation. ISG15 and ISGylation are both strongly upregulated by type I interferons and play putative key roles in host innate immunity against viral infection. However, the function of ISGylation and identities of ISGylation substrates are largely unknown. Here, a novel monoclonal antibody (Mab) that specifically recognizes porcine ISG15 (pISG15) was employed to capture ISG15-conjugated proteins from IFNs-stimulated porcine cell lysates. Next, Mab-captured conjugates were analyzed using proteomics-based tools to identify potential ISGylation protein targets in order to elucidate the roles of ISG15 and ISGylation in porcine cells. Subsequently, 190 putative ISGylation sites were detected within 98 identified ISGylation candidates; several candidates contained more than one ISGylation-modifiable lysine residue, including pISG15 itself. Motif enrichment analysis of confirmed ISGylation sites demonstrated a moderate bias towards certain sites with specific upstream amino acid residues. Meanwhile, results of Gene Ontology (GO)-based annotation and functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses of porcine ISG15-conjugated substrate proteins indicated that these substrates were mainly associated with the host metabolism, especially nucleotide metabolic pathways that ultimately may participate in cellular antiviral defenses. Notably, several ISGs (MX1, IFIT1, OAS1, ISG15 and putative ISG15 E3 ligase Herc6) were also identified as putative ISGylation substrates within a regulatory loop involving ISGylation of ISGs themselves. Taken together, proteomics analysis of porcine ISGylation substrates revealed putative functional roles of ISG15 and novel host ISGylation targets that may ultimately be involved in cellular antiviral responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host Immune Response to Infectious Diseases)
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21 pages, 3842 KiB  
Article
Contrasting Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotic and Pathogenic Bacteria on Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Larvae
by Tejashree H. Modak and Marta Gomez-Chiarri
Vaccines 2020, 8(4), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8040588 - 6 Oct 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4093
Abstract
Several Vibrio spp. cause acute and severe mortality events in hatcheries where larvae of bivalve mollusks are reared, potentially leading to subsequent shortage of bivalve seed for the grow-out industry. In particular, strains of Vibrio coralliilyticus have been identified as a major cause [...] Read more.
Several Vibrio spp. cause acute and severe mortality events in hatcheries where larvae of bivalve mollusks are reared, potentially leading to subsequent shortage of bivalve seed for the grow-out industry. In particular, strains of Vibrio coralliilyticus have been identified as a major cause of disease in Pacific, Crassostrea gigas, and eastern, C. virginica, oyster hatcheries in the USA of America. Probiotic bacteria are an inexpensive, practical, and natural method of disease control. Previous research shows that pretreatment of larval oysters with probiotic bacteria Bacillus pumilus RI06–95 (RI) and Phaeobacter inhibens S4 (S4) significantly decreases mortality caused by experimental challenge with the bacterial pathogen V. coralliilyticus RE22 (RE22). This study aims to characterize the immune response of 6–10-day-old eastern oyster larvae to experimental challenge with pathogen V. coralliilyticus RE22 and probionts RI and S4. Treatments included (a) pathogen and probiont exposure at a concentration of 5 × 104 CFU per mL (~2500 bacterial cells per larva) for a duration of 6 h, (b) probiont exposure at the same concentration for a duration of 24 h, and (c) probiont RI daily treatment of larvae in the hatchery for 4, 11, and 15 days. Differential gene expression analysis compared pathogen or probiotic-treated transcriptomes to unexposed controls. Probiotic and pathogen treatment led to upregulation of transcripts coding for several immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in environmental sensing and detection of microbes in oyster larvae. Larval oyster responses to pathogen RE22 suggested suppression of expression of genes in immune signaling pathways (myd88, tak1, nkap), failure in upregulation of immune effector genes, high metabolic demand, and oxidative stress that potentially contributed to mortality. On the other hand, the transcriptomic response to probiotic bacteria RI and S4 suggested activation of immune signaling pathways and expression of immune effectors (e.g., Cv-spi2, mucins and perforin-2). These key features of the host immune response to probiotic bacteria were shared despite the length of probiotic exposure, probiotic species, and the type of environment in which exposures were conducted. This study suggests that pre-exposure of eastern oyster larvae to probiotics for 6–24 h prior to pathogenic challenge leads to a robust and effective immune response that may contribute to protecting larvae from subsequent challenge with V. coralliilyticus RE22. This research provides new insights into host-microbe interactions in larval oysters that could be applied in the management of vibriosis in bivalve hatcheries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host Immune Response to Infectious Diseases)
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13 pages, 6686 KiB  
Article
Nora Virus VP4b and ORF1 Circulate in Hemolymph of Infected D. melanogaster with Coordinate Expression of Vago and Vir-1
by Amanda Macke, Wilfredo Lopez, Darby J. Carlson and Kimberly A. Carlson
Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030491 - 31 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3338
Abstract
Study of the novel RNA virus, Nora virus, which is a persistent, picorna-like virus that replicates in the gut of Drosophila melanogaster offers insight into human innate immunity and other picorna-like viruses. Nora virus infection leads to a locomotor abnormality and upregulation of [...] Read more.
Study of the novel RNA virus, Nora virus, which is a persistent, picorna-like virus that replicates in the gut of Drosophila melanogaster offers insight into human innate immunity and other picorna-like viruses. Nora virus infection leads to a locomotor abnormality and upregulation of two candidate target proteins, Vago and Virus-induced RNA 1 (Vir-1). These proteins are uncharacterized in response to Nora virus. We hypothesize that Nora virus is circulating in the hemolymph of Nora virus-infected D. melanogaster, allowing for migration beyond the primary site of replication in the gut. Analysis by qRT-PCR demonstrated biphasic viral load and corresponding vago and vir-1 transcription levels, suggesting transcription of vago and vir-1 occurs in response to viral infection. However, Vir-1 is also present in virus-free D. melanogaster suggesting basal expression or alternative functions. Presence of Nora virus RNA and the Viral Protein 4b (VP4b), in hemolymph of infected D. melanogaster supports the hypothesized circulation of Nora virus in the hemolymph. The study suggests that impaired locomotor function may be due to transport of Nora virus from the gut to the brain via the hemolymph. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host Immune Response to Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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9 pages, 642 KiB  
Review
VLP-Based Vaccines as a Suitable Technology to Target Trypanosomatid Diseases
by Aline Maria Vasconcelos Queiroz, Johny Wysllas de Freitas Oliveira, Cláudia Jassica Moreno, Diego M. A. Guérin and Marcelo Sousa Silva
Vaccines 2021, 9(3), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9030220 - 5 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3308
Abstract
Research on vaccines against trypanosomatids, a family of protozoa that cause neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness, is a current need. Today, according to modern vaccinology, virus-like particle (VLP) technology is involved in many vaccines, including those undergoing [...] Read more.
Research on vaccines against trypanosomatids, a family of protozoa that cause neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness, is a current need. Today, according to modern vaccinology, virus-like particle (VLP) technology is involved in many vaccines, including those undergoing studies related to COVID-19. The potential use of VLPs as vaccine adjuvants opens an opportunity for the use of protozoan antigens for the development of vaccines against diseases caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma brucei. In this context, it is important to consider the evasion mechanisms of these protozoa in the host and the antigens involved in the mechanisms of the parasite–host interaction. Thus, the immunostimulatory properties of VLPs can be part of an important strategy for the development and evaluation of new vaccines. This work aims to highlight the potential of VLPs as vaccine adjuvants for the development of immunity in complex diseases, specifically in the context of tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host Immune Response to Infectious Diseases)
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