Bacterial and Fungal Surfaces: From Biophysics to Immunology

Dear Colleagues,

The exposed surface of the microbial cell forms its interface with the incredibly diverse environments that microbes inhabit. The way this interface is chemically and morphologically organized, mechanically stabilized, and dynamically rearranged along the bacterial and fungal lifecycle determines the ability of these microorganisms to interact with their surroundings. From a biophysical perspective, surface adhesive properties—determined by specific chemical groups or dedicated adhesins and surface appendages such as pili or flagella—play crucial roles in environmental sensing, colonization, biofilm formation, and infection. Thus, deciphering the molecular forces underlying bacterial and fungal interactions with biotic (e.g., mammalian cells, proteins) or abiotic surfaces (e.g., medical devices) holds promise in the design of novel antiadhesive therapies. From an immunological perspective, surface-exposed virulence factors and antigens—including proteins, lipids, and glycans—are not only critical to pathogen–host cell interactions, but also for immune modulation. Understanding how the complex biochemistry of bacterial and fungal surfaces interacts with the host immune system may in turn improve diagnostic tools and therapies. Finally, antimicrobials and other environmental challenges affecting the mechanical or chemical properties of the microbial cell envelope often have functional consequences at the surface. How the microbial surface is altered by antimicrobials will aid in a better understanding of antimicrobial modes of action.
Given these premises, we look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue, in the form of original research or review papers that will shed light on different aspects of bacterial and fungal surfaces, from model systems to living cells: their biophysics, their biochemistry, and their industrial and medical importance (e.g., in biofilm formation and in pathogen–host interactions).

Dr. Albertus Viljoen
Dr. Marion Mathelié-Guinlet
Guest Editors

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• bacteria
• fungi
• cell envelope
• mechanics
• surface ultrastructure
• surface chemistry
• host-pathogen interactions