About this Research Topic
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are a type of infectious diseases transmitted to susceptible vertebrate hosts by the contact or bites of arthropods, including plague, Lyme disease, malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis. VBDs are caused by parasites, bacteria, or viruses, and every year they cause more than one billion cases and over one million deaths worldwide, creating a serious public health threat, especially in developing countries.
Although significant progress has been made in vector control in the last decade, an effective vaccination for VBDs is still lacking. In addition, drug resistance has recently increased in vector-borne pathogens. Artemisinin and quinoline derivatives were once the most widely used antimalarial drugs, P. falciparum, the most deadly malaria species, had already developed heritable resistance to both drug groups. Unlike bacteria and viruses, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of parasite-host interaction. For example, the absence of suitable animal models has become an obstacle for dengue research. With the emergence of multiple recurrent VBDs, understanding the intricate mechanisms of the host as well as developing new diagnostic tools against invading pathogens will also greatly help in developing new interventions. Surveillance of VBD is key to measuring the effectiveness of interventions to control VBD. Applying modeling in prediction of pathogen replication and pathogenicity, vector monitoring and control, and disease transmission patterns are critical in monitoring, controlling, and responding to outbreaks of these diseases.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide novel insights into the detection and treatment of VBD, including novel therapeutics, drug resistance, novel biomarkers as well as to explore the factors that influence parasite-host interactions, including the vector profile and host immune system modulation induced by the pathogens. In addition, manuscripts covering vector control and risk assessment for disease transmission are also welcome.
We welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review and Mini-Review encompassing epidemiological, translational, and basic researches focusing on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
• Evaluation of existing diagnostic tools and development of novel detection tools, which are relevant to the evolving VBD agents.
• Novel therapeutics efficacy evaluation for vector-borne diseases
• New therapeutic targets for the development of vaccines and drugs against vector-borne diseases
• New findings on drug resistance mechanism for vector-borne diseases
• New mechanisms on parasite-host interaction, including mechanism of immune escape and multi-path infection, host immune regulation and immune response, the symbiosis between parasites and microorganisms
• Assessment of the risk of disease transmission applying mathematical models
Although significant progress has been made in vector control in the last decade, an effective vaccination for VBDs is still lacking. In addition, drug resistance has recently increased in vector-borne pathogens. Artemisinin and quinoline derivatives were once the most widely used antimalarial drugs, P. falciparum, the most deadly malaria species, had already developed heritable resistance to both drug groups. Unlike bacteria and viruses, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of parasite-host interaction. For example, the absence of suitable animal models has become an obstacle for dengue research. With the emergence of multiple recurrent VBDs, understanding the intricate mechanisms of the host as well as developing new diagnostic tools against invading pathogens will also greatly help in developing new interventions. Surveillance of VBD is key to measuring the effectiveness of interventions to control VBD. Applying modeling in prediction of pathogen replication and pathogenicity, vector monitoring and control, and disease transmission patterns are critical in monitoring, controlling, and responding to outbreaks of these diseases.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide novel insights into the detection and treatment of VBD, including novel therapeutics, drug resistance, novel biomarkers as well as to explore the factors that influence parasite-host interactions, including the vector profile and host immune system modulation induced by the pathogens. In addition, manuscripts covering vector control and risk assessment for disease transmission are also welcome.
We welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review and Mini-Review encompassing epidemiological, translational, and basic researches focusing on, but not limited to, the following aspects:
• Evaluation of existing diagnostic tools and development of novel detection tools, which are relevant to the evolving VBD agents.
• Novel therapeutics efficacy evaluation for vector-borne diseases
• New therapeutic targets for the development of vaccines and drugs against vector-borne diseases
• New findings on drug resistance mechanism for vector-borne diseases
• New mechanisms on parasite-host interaction, including mechanism of immune escape and multi-path infection, host immune regulation and immune response, the symbiosis between parasites and microorganisms
• Assessment of the risk of disease transmission applying mathematical models
Keywords: Therapeutic Efficacy, Parasite-host Interactions, Vector-borne Diseases, Prevention, Priorities and Needs
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
