Dear Dicty-researchers, dear amoebologists,

We - Thierry Soldati, Ludwig Eichinger, and Sascha Thewes – have been
invited as guest-editors to host a special research topic in the open
access journal “Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology” (
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__journal.frontiersin.org_journal_cellular-2Dand-2Dinfection-2Dmicrobiology-23&d=CwIDaQ&c=yHlS04HhBraes5BQ9ueu5zKhE7rtNXt_d012z2PA6ws&r=G0i-xkKvWepiOT01FF_Nx9XkaEEFt5Dttsc3yIePxBPU44aHfHsMfVSlUygwIJiN&m=67807ZymBxgotX4uFZOuedk6A8dByecWl3mvzfbNryI&s=I4U9UcxbEaoER_QFW5CMHkcOE2C0WkyQwPPyfSJHIKA&e= 
). We think this might be a great opportunity to draw additional attention
to Dictyostelium as a host model for pathogens. However, we believe that
other amoebae such as e.g. Acanthamoebae are also important model hosts
for pathogens. Therefore, we chose as title of the research topic “Amoebae
as Host Models to Study the Interaction with Pathogens”.

We cordially invite all researchers working on the interaction of (any)
amoebae with pathogens (viruses, bacteria, or fungi) to submit their next
articles to this special research topic. All article types (original
research, methods, reviews, and perspectives) are welcome.

In the research topic we aim to answer especially the following questions:
Which amoebae can be used as hosts? Which pathogens can be studied using
amoebae? Which aspects of phagocytosis and killing by the amoebae are in
common with mammalian phagocytes such as macrophages and neutrophils? Do
pathogens distinguish between amoebae and phagocytes of the animal immune
system? Which are the most evolutionary conserved mechanisms?
Nevertheless, other articles fitting to the topic will also be considered.
A full description of the research topic can be found at
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__journal.frontiersin.org_researchtopic_5851_amoebae-2Das-2Dhost-2Dmodels-2Dto-2Dstudy-2Dthe-2Dinteraction-2Dwith-2Dpathogens&d=CwIDaQ&c=yHlS04HhBraes5BQ9ueu5zKhE7rtNXt_d012z2PA6ws&r=G0i-xkKvWepiOT01FF_Nx9XkaEEFt5Dttsc3yIePxBPU44aHfHsMfVSlUygwIJiN&m=67807ZymBxgotX4uFZOuedk6A8dByecWl3mvzfbNryI&s=emWZKyos-FdJIYlUrA_6OkpKLGHOgzH190EZd7hAbE8&e= .

The deadlines for abstract and manuscript submission are July, 31st, and
October, 15th, 2017, respectively. All submitted manuscripts will undergo
the normal peer reviewing process of Frontiers. Accepted manuscripts will
be immediately published. If at least 10 articles will be accepted for
publication in our special research topic, an e-book will be generated.

We are looking forward to your feedback and contributions.

Kind regards,

Thierry, Ludwig, and Sascha.