The epithelium is the most unique structure of the body as it is the layer that faces the outside environment. The epithelium must protect the body from the various environmental insults, such as pathogens, particles, and mechanical forces. In this role, the epithelium will sustain injuries, which must then be properly repaired to restore the original tissue structure and integrity. The epithelium must at the same time allow material transfer and exchange with the outside environment, absorbing nutrients, and removing waste. At the plasma membrane of the epithelial cells, these tasks are carried out by structural proteins and protein complexes, receptors, channels, carriers and pumps, and proteases. These molecules must be delivered to the appropriate topological location, while the abundance and activities of these molecules must also be precisely regulated. The goal of this special issue is to develop a comprehensive picture of the epithelial membrane molecular landscape in multiple dimensions: transport and trafficking, changes during normal tissue development and differentiation, changes during tissue injury, and changes during tissue repair and regeneration.

We are inviting original research and review articles addressing the epithelial membrane molecular landscape with a functional interpretation on the dynamic roles played by the epithelium. The topics to be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Intercellular adhesions and junctions
• Channels, carriers, and pumps
• Membrane-anchored receptors
• Membrane-anchored proteases
• Endocytosis, recycling of membrane proteins, and transcytosis
• Invasion of pathogens
• Mechanosensing
• Epithelial-matrix adhesions

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbb/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: