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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
Published on: September 13, 2024
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Immunoengineering: An Emerging Field in Infectious Diseases
Alexander M Tatara1,2, Antonios G Mikos3, Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|April 22, 2025
Summary
Immunoengineering precisely manipulates the immune system using biochemical and mechanical cues. This approach offers novel solutions for infectious diseases, including antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Convergence of materials science, bioengineering, and immunology.
- Emergence of immunoengineering as a paradigm to augment host immunity.
Background:
- Cancer research has driven early immunoengineering discoveries.
- Infectious diseases present significant clinical challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens, and immunocompromised hosts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce basic concepts of immunoengineering.
- To provide current examples of immunoengineering applications in infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Delivering biochemical and mechanical cues with engineered precision.
- Stimulating the immune system to respond to specific antigens with a designed phenotype.
Main Results:
- Immunoengineering can be applied to address challenges in infectious diseases.
- Examples include cell therapies, immunomodulating small molecule delivery, and next-generation vaccine development.
Conclusions:
- Immunoengineering holds significant promise for combating infectious diseases.
- Novel therapeutic strategies can be developed through the precise control of host immunity.
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