Editors: Dilvani Oliveira Santos, Paulo Renato Zuquim Antas

Series Title: Frontiers in Inflammation

Mitochondrial DNA and the Immuno-inflammatory Response: New Frontiers to Control Specific Microbial Diseases

Volume 3

eBook: US $39 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $72
Printed Copy: US $52
Library License: US $156
ISSN: 2468-1466 (Print)
ISSN: 2468-1474 (Online)
ISBN: 978-981-5051-70-4 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5051-69-8 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2022
DOI: 10.2174/97898150516981220301

Introduction

Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that actively participate in the immune-inflammatory response in various pathologies. This volume updates readers on knowledge about mitochondria function. The editors have compiled six chapters about inflammation in its broadest sense, with contributions from active groups of cell biologists, infectologists and pathologists.

The chapters in this volume focus on research related to five notable diseases:

(1) two diseases (one bacterial and one viral) in which the exacerbation of the inflammatory response can lead to neuropathies: leprosy (one of the oldest diseases in the world) and Zika fever (a disease relatively new in Brazil)

(2) three diseases (two bacterial and one viral) in which the exacerbation of the inflammatory response can lead to irreversible lung damage that can cause rapid death: tuberculosis, pneumonia and the most recent global disease, COVID- 19.

New information about mitochondrial biology is presented, such as the effect of aerobic physical exercise as a stimulator for mitochondria multiplication, and the role of mitochondrial damage in inducing immune-inflammatory responses to pathogens. The contents shed light on mitochondrial biochemical pathways that could serve as potential therapeutic targets.

This is an important reference for scholars (cell biologists, microbiologists) in universities, hospitals and scientific research centers working on biological and biomedical problems, and for health professionals involved in infection control.

Audience: Scholars (cell biologists, microbiologists) in universities, hospitals and scientific research centers working on biological and biomedical problems; health professionals involved in infection control.

Foreword

Microorganisms are the most abundant and diverse beings on Earth and are capable of occupying various ecological niches. Among them, there are pathogenic microorganisms that have the ability to cause infections or diseases when interacting with a host, who they need to thrive and survive. Once the pathogen sets itself up in a host, it manages to avoid the host’s immune response and uses its resources to replicate before spreading to new ones.

Infectious diseases are among the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and are a major challenge for the biomedical sciences. Recently, much progress has been made towards unraveling the mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, including the immuno-inflammatory response elicited by the parasite-host relationship. It is worth mentioning that the mitochondrial DNA stands out, known for its role in oxidative phosphorylation and maternally inherited mitochondrial diseases. The release of mitochondrial DNA into the cellular cytoplasm and out to the extracellular milieu activates different pattern recognition receptors and innate immune responses leading to robust actions.

Mitochondrial DNA and the Immuno-inflammatory response: new frontiers to control specific microbial diseases aims to present state-of-the-art coverage on topics central to the understanding of the interactions between pathogenic microorganism (bacteria and virus) and hosts. The book is divided into six chapters written by professionals with expertise in the field of cell biology and immuno-inflammatory response. The chapters cover the complexity of mitochondrial metabolism; the mitochondrial dysfunction in leprosy; mitochondria and the host immune cell against Mycobacterium tuberculosis; disturbance of mitochondrial function in Streptococcus pneumoniae infection; inflammatory response in Zika virus infection and mitochondrial dysfunction; and the potential role of mtDNA as an important marker of hyper inflammation in the progress of COVID-19. This book represents a comprehensive and an indispensable tool for researchers in immunology and microbiology wishing to keep abreast with the latest developments in cellular immunology and mitochondrial DNA. In addition, it provides a reliable reference for undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of becoming competent future immunologists/microbiologists, as well as for health professionals in general.

Cintia de Moraes Borba
Laboratory of Taxonomy, Biochemistry and Bioprospecting of Fungi
Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ
Brazil