Genomics of Pathogens and Vectors

We are delighted to announce a thematic issue focused on the molecular epidemiology of pathogens and vectors of disease. In the last decades, genomics has revolutionized many areas of science, technology, and health by enlightening our understanding of the intricate molecular biology of pathogens and vectors. Despite these advances viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens still cause huge economic and health losses around the world. Moreover, there is compelling evidence of an expansion of their impact linked to global warming, anthropogenic activities and/or limitations in control strategies. Vectored pathogens are also highly relevant, causing diseases with severe morbidity and mortality such as malaria, dengue fever and schistosomiasis. The expanding geographical reach of vectors due to adaptation and/or climate change is leading to outbreaks in previously unaffected areas. Substantial challenges remain to track and trace pathogens and vectors through molecular signatures in order to understand their impact to human and animal health in different environments.

With these aspects in mind, we propose this thematic issue that will compile new advancements in genomics to better characterize, track and trace pathogens and vectors of disease. In particular, this issue focuses on the use of next-generation sequencing technologies, comparative genomics, population genomics, and/or phylogenomics to understand genomic variability that can be used to locate and monitor these organisms in space and time. We also encourage submissions on bioinformatics software, databases and/or workflows for data integration and analysis (including machine/deep learning approaches) addressing the aims of this issue