About this Research Topic
Emerging pathogens and chemical contaminants disrupt normal interaction in the environmental ecosystem. These contaminants may decimate the biotic components of the environment, leading to the succession of microbial pathogens. Only those with inherent or acquired traits such as resistance genes to contaminants like residual antibiotics, heavy metals, or degradative genes against crude oil or any others will survive. Both water and soil matrices communicate the exchange of material through runoff from soil and overflow or pipe leakage from the waters. Through these pathways, both pathogens and contaminants are transported along. The exposure pathways for humans are diverse and are worthy of studying to channel prevention strategies. Resultant epidemiological outcomes of the pathogens and chemical contaminants in these environments depend on the dose or concentration of the contaminants
Our environment is full of important microbial resources which include the commensals and the pathogens. The threat of having a high pathogen burden in an environment is a resultant of humans and the fauna of the region. More threat is associated with the presence of emerging pathogens, especially those that undergo species jumps, causing emerging or re-emerging disease(s). Emerging chemical contaminants are released into the environment from urban, industrial, agricultural, and other anthropogenic activities. Some are released in nano but significantly toxic quantities into the environment. If not addressed, ecotoxicity or induced resistance to antibiotics might result from emerging contaminants in the environment. Some of these contaminants are carcinogenic. Mitigation strategies will depend on accurate characterization, identification, and removal efficiencies of these pathogens and chemical contaminants in the environment; the exposure pathways as well as the observed or potential epidemiological outcomes.
Manuscripts focusing on the environment or public health approaches, environmental chemistry, microbiology, and parasitology involving emerging/new strains of soil-transmitted helminths, emerging bacterial and viral strains, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic resistance genes, virulence signatures/degradative genes, etc. addressed within any of the following themes:
1. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)
2. Exposure pathways
3. Source tracking and mitigation steps
4. Emerging chemical contaminants in the environment or water matrices
5. Epidemiological outcomes
6. Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the environment
7. Wastewater in early warning sign
8. Removal efficiencies of pathogens and chemical contaminants from the environment
9. Roles of the environment on water matrices and their public health implications
Both expert review and research manuscripts with high scientific quality inputs will be considered. The manuscript must be original, never published, or not currently under consideration elsewhere.
Our environment is full of important microbial resources which include the commensals and the pathogens. The threat of having a high pathogen burden in an environment is a resultant of humans and the fauna of the region. More threat is associated with the presence of emerging pathogens, especially those that undergo species jumps, causing emerging or re-emerging disease(s). Emerging chemical contaminants are released into the environment from urban, industrial, agricultural, and other anthropogenic activities. Some are released in nano but significantly toxic quantities into the environment. If not addressed, ecotoxicity or induced resistance to antibiotics might result from emerging contaminants in the environment. Some of these contaminants are carcinogenic. Mitigation strategies will depend on accurate characterization, identification, and removal efficiencies of these pathogens and chemical contaminants in the environment; the exposure pathways as well as the observed or potential epidemiological outcomes.
Manuscripts focusing on the environment or public health approaches, environmental chemistry, microbiology, and parasitology involving emerging/new strains of soil-transmitted helminths, emerging bacterial and viral strains, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic resistance genes, virulence signatures/degradative genes, etc. addressed within any of the following themes:
1. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)
2. Exposure pathways
3. Source tracking and mitigation steps
4. Emerging chemical contaminants in the environment or water matrices
5. Epidemiological outcomes
6. Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the environment
7. Wastewater in early warning sign
8. Removal efficiencies of pathogens and chemical contaminants from the environment
9. Roles of the environment on water matrices and their public health implications
Both expert review and research manuscripts with high scientific quality inputs will be considered. The manuscript must be original, never published, or not currently under consideration elsewhere.
Keywords: emerging pathogens, epidemiology, human health, environmental exposure
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.
