Preface

This book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of recent trends in innate immunity as well as general concepts of immuno-biology of infections, immune-pathology, immuno-microbiology, immuno-genomics, and immunopharmacology. It also examines current clinical recommendations in the management of various diseases, highlighting ongoing issues, recent advances, and future directions of diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.

The book focuses on various aspects and properties of innate immunity, whose deep understanding is very important for safeguarding the human race from further loss of resources and economies due to innate immune response-mediated diseases. Throughout this book we will examine the individual mechanisms by which the innate immune response acts to protect the host from pathogenic infectious agents and other non-communicable diseases.

Macrophages are ubiquitous and integrated parts of both innate and adaptive immunity. These cells have been researched extensively in different contexts. Macrophages display a range of plasticity in their phenotype in different pathological conditions. Together, peripheral and tissue macrophages constitute the reticuloendothelial system where they play a major role in sensing pathogens and tumor antigens for their effective eradication. Macrophages display a range of plasticity, which qualifies them as potential target cells for managing various human diseases clinically. Due to their plastic nature, these cells are potentially involved in most immunological and physiological responses.

Several groups including ours have demonstrated that several multidrug resistant (MDR)/extensively drug resistant (XTR) bacteria polarize M1 effector alveolar macrophages towards their M2 phenotype during persistent infection. This seems to be a potential link to the sensitization for infection and possibly the development of cancer.

Current research in the field focuses on managing the M1/M2 imbalance to minimize the risk of cancer arising from chronic and persistent lung infection with intracellular pathogens like *Chlamydia* or *Mycobacteria*. This may be achieved by targeting major signaling pathways that drive the M2 phenotype and are involved in cancer development (e.g., sphingolipids, Th2/Th17 responses).

In view of the preceding, this book discusses research methodologies, resources, and technologies for identifying the molecular signature involved in the polarization of M1 effector macrophages to M2 macrophages during disease. It also explores how selective phenotypes of macrophages can improve existing therapies, with special emphasis on infection and cancer, particularly lung cancers, and various gastric inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease.

Written by experts in the field, this volume is a self-contained collection of scholarly papers targeting an audience of practicing researchers, academics, Ph.D. students, and other scientists.

## **Dr. Shailendra K. Saxena**

Professor, Center for Advanced Research (CFAR), King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, India

#### **Dr. Hridayesh Prakash**

**1**

Section 1

Innate Immunity in

Infection Management

Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Noida, India Section 1
