About this Research Topic

Background

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) have been a persistent challenge throughout human history, affecting both human populations and agriculture. Despite advancements in understanding the causes and mechanisms of VBDs, the complex interactions between arthropods, pathogens, and hosts remain inadequately understood. Current research predominantly focuses on macro-environmental factors like global climate change and biodiversity loss, which are used to model large-scale climate-disease interactions. However, these models often fall short in predicting fine-scale risks, which are crucial for effective intervention. The concept of "glocalisation" has emerged to describe the dual influence of local and global factors on VBD ecology, yet many ecological, demographic, and socio-economic aspects remain underexplored. This gap highlights the need for interdisciplinary and longitudinal research to better understand the spatio-temporal dynamics of VBDs, including zoonoses and diseases affecting animals and plants.

This Research Topic aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps in the ecology and dynamics of novel and re-emerging vector-borne diseases. The primary objectives include understanding the expansion of vectors' geographical distribution, their adaptation to new environments, and the in vivo evolution of pathogens. The research will also explore host/vector shifts and local adaptations within VBD systems. By addressing these areas, the research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving VBD emergence and spread, ultimately informing more effective prevention and control strategies.

To gather further insights into the glocalisation of vector-borne diseases, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The expansion of vectors' geographical distribution and their adaptation to new anthropogenic/urban ecological conditions;
• Vector competence and in vivo evolution of pathogens;
• Host/vector shifts in VBDs;
• Field-based evidence of local adaptations in VBD systems;
• Studies on the ecology of diseases that are broadly distributed but are typically considered to be of focal importance, such as soft-tick relapsing fevers, Buruli ulcer, and tungiasis.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: vector-borne diseases, glocalisation, arthropod-pathogen-host interactions, climate change, disease ecology, spatio-temporal dynamics, ecological conditions

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.

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