Triggers and tolerance of T cell networks in microbial immunity and autoimmune diseases

T cells sit at the junction between protective immunity and self-tolerance. Microbial exposure, whether from commensal or pathogenic organisms, shapes T cell repertoire, differentiation, and regulatory function throughout life. Disruption of this balance is a recurring feature of autoimmune disease, and a growing body of evidence links gut dysbiosis, altered T-cell receptor signaling, and shifts in Treg/Th17 plasticity to autoimmune onset and progression. This intersection of microbial immunity and T cell tolerance is a fast-moving research area with strong translational relevance for both infectious and autoimmune conditions.This Research Topic aims to bring together current understanding of how microbial signals influence T cell networks and how failures in this crosstalk contribute to autoimmune disease. We want to consolidate evidence on the molecular and cellular triggers that push T cells toward activation, tolerance, or dysfunction, and to identify where interventions targeting these pathways could restore immune balance. By gathering research from immunology, microbiology, and clinical autoimmunity, this collection seeks to clarify shared mechanisms across disease contexts and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies that exploit the microbiome-T cell axis.We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles addressing microbial triggers, commensal, pathogenic, or dysbiotic, of T cell activation and differentiation; mechanisms underlying T cell tolerance breakdown in autoimmune disease; gut microbiome–T cell crosstalk in mucosal and systemic immunity; T-cell receptor signaling and antigen specificity in host-microbe interactions; regulatory T cell reprogramming and its role in restoring tolerance; and translational or therapeutic strategies targeting T cell networks in autoimmunity. Topic editors: Md Zohorul Islam, Yazan Alwarawrah Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85494/triggers-and-tolerance-of-t-cell-networks-in-microbial-immunity-and-autoimmune-diseases