From Genomics to Antibiotic Resistance in Emerging Pathogens

The world is facing the increased threat of emerging infectious diseases (EID) and re-emerging infections accelerated by globalization and environmental changes. Furthermore, pathogens becoming resistant to antimicrobials (antimicrobial resistance, AMR) is referred as a silent pandemics increasing worldwide and affecting especially developing countries. New insights into emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases as well as increased understanding of AMR will contribute to the future development of breakthrough innovations for diagnostics, therapies and prevention tools to restrain and mitigate infectious disease threats and ensure sustainable, safe food and environment. In the current era of genomic epidemiology, next generation sequencing technologies have provided a dramatic impact on microbial genome research by providing high-throughput-low-cost alternative compared to traditional capillary sequencers and by replacing traditional molecular diagnostics and genotyping methods in identifying, characterizing, and tracking pathogens, their virulence genes, mobile genetic elements and antimicrobial resistance genes. The ability to analyze and compare entire pathogen genomes has allowed more comprehensive analysis of the structure and content of microbial genomes. These technologies are being employed increasingly in the research and routine public health practice such as the surveillance and control of pathogens.

In this Issue we would like to focus on the genomics of pathogens, especially the emerging and re-emerging pathogens and AMR associated with them. Contribution may encompass:

● Genomics of emerging pathogens
● Antimicrobial resistance associated with pathogens
● Comparative pathogenomics
● Pathogen and host transcriptomics
● Comparative genomics of pathogens
● Microbiology, genomics, metagenomics, evolution, and gene regulation of emerging pathogens