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Immunosenescence: implications for infectious diseases

Guest Editors

Jenna M. Bartley, PhD, UConn Health, United States
Valquiria Bueno, PhD, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

BMC Geriatrics welcomed for submissions to our Collection on Immunosenescence. This Collection aimed to collate interdisciplinary research in order to advance the understanding of immunosenescence and infectious diseases in older individuals.

Immunosenescence is a complex process that significantly impacts the health and well-being of older individuals, resulting in increased incidence of many age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune diseases.  Of particular concern is the impact of immunosenescence on infectious disease; older populations are at increased risk of infections, experience higher rates of complications and mortality, and can exhibit reduced responsiveness to vaccinations. By exploring the underlying mechanisms and identifying innovative approaches to disease prevention and management, we can move towards improved health outcomes and quality of life for aging populations worldwide.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Jenna M. Bartley, PhD, UConn Health, United States

Dr Jenna Bartley received her PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut. Her graduate research focused on interrelated aspects of human health, metabolism, and muscle function focusing on human subject research. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on immunology and aging utilizing murine models of aging and infection. She became an Assistant Professor in 2018 in the Deparment of Immunology and Center on Aging at UConn Health. Her independent research focuses on combining her unique background in both murine and human subject research to focus on translational aging research. Her multidisciplinary research uses geroscience approaches to bridge the bench and the bedside to develop and test potential interventions to prevent age-related declines in immune responses, physical function, and overall healthspan.

Valquiria Bueno, PhD, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

Dr Valquiria Bueno has a background in Biology and a postdoc in Immunology from The University of Oxford. As an Associate Professor at UNIFESP (Federal University of São Paulo) since 2006 she has been working on the Aging issue for more than one decade. In association with researchers of the Aging field around the world she has published books: "The Ageing Immune System and Health" edited by Valquiria Bueno, Janet M Lord, and Thomas Jackson, "Healthy Longevity and Immune System" edited by Valquiria Bueno and Graham Pawelec, and “Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Ageing”. Her main interest is in how the aging process interferes with the immune system function and what are the consequences of it for older individuals. She has been supported by Brazilian (FAPESP, CAPES, CNPq), British Council, and Newton Fund grants for the study of the Aging process and changes occurring in the Immune System.

About the Collection

BMC Geriatrics welcomed for submissions to our Collection on Immunosenescence.

Aging is associated with a decline of immune functionality, a process known as immunosenescence. It is a complex process that significantly impacts the health and well-being of older individuals, resulting in increased incidence of many age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune diseases.  Of particular concern is the impact of immunosenescence on infectious disease; older populations are at increased risk of infections, experience higher rates of complications and mortality, and can exhibit reduced responsiveness to vaccinations.

These challenges can greatly impact older individuals, and despite the clinical significance of immunosenescence, there is a paucity of available research on the topic.  With a rapidly growing aging population, it is imperative that scientists explore the complex mechanisms underpinning the immunological changes associated with aging, and gain a greater understanding of the impact on host-pathogen interactions.  

In order to advance the field, BMC Geriatrics launched a collection with the aim of exploring various aspects of immunosenescence and the implications for infectious diseases. Possible topics of interest include:

  • Biological mechanisms of immunosenescence
  • Susceptibility to infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumonia and COVID-19 
  • Vaccine responses in geriatric populations, including immunogenicity and efficacy
  • Host-pathogen interactions
  • Clinical implications and interventions


This Collection aims to collate interdisciplinary research in order to advance the understanding of immunosenescence and infectious diseases. By exploring the underlying mechanisms and identifying innovative approaches to disease prevention and management, we can move towards improved health outcomes and quality of life for aging populations worldwide.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Image credit: © Choreograph / Getty Images / iStock

  1. Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the main pathogens that causesbloodstream infection (BSI) in elderly patients, with high morbidity and mortality rates once infected; new inflammatory indicators, ...

    Authors: Shaoqin Lai, Xiaojun Li, Donghao Cai, Chuangchuang Mei and Zhihui Liang
    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2025 25:234
    Content type: Research Published on: