The immune system constantly interacts with pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, employing a variety of defense mechanisms to eliminate threats. Among these, oxidative stress and nutritional immunity are crucial components of the host’s immune response. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generated by immune cells to damage bacterial components, while nutritional immunity limits the availability of essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and manganese. However, bacteria have evolved sophisticated strategies to counteract these pressures, enabling survival and persistence within the host. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies to combat bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance.

This research topic aims to explore the dynamic interplay between bacterial pathogens and the host immune system, with a particular focus on bacterial adaptations to oxidative and nutritional stress as well as the immune system response. Bacteria deploy various mechanisms, such as antioxidant enzyme systems, metal sequestration, metabolic reprogramming, and biofilm formation, to evade immune-mediated elimination. Additionally, some bacteria can manipulate host immune responses to reduce oxidative stress exposure or reprogram their metabolism to thrive in nutrient-limited environments. Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have shed light on these bacterial strategies, opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions. By fostering research in this field, we can deepen our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and potentially identify novel targets for antimicrobial development.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions from various disciplines, including microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, to provide a comprehensive understanding of bacterial evasion mechanisms as well as immune system modulation. We encourage authors to submit original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on the following themes:

• Bacterial physiological mechanisms for immune evasion.
• The impact of nutritional immunity on bacterial survival and pathogenesis.
• Metabolic adaptations of bacteria under oxidative and nutritional stress conditions.
• Immune modulation by bacterial factors.
• Therapeutic approaches targeting bacterial resistance to oxidative and nutritional stress.

Note that Prof. Paula Tribelli works for Gador Laboratories, which supports an undergraduate student fellowship in her group.

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