About this Research Topic
The current research topic aims to publish high-quality scholarly review papers on key topics in molecular epidemiology and evolution of infectious pathogens. It aims to highlight recent findings in the field, whilst emphasizing important directions and new possibilities for future inquiries. As good recent example we can cite the emergence and evolution of the many SARS-CoV-2 antigenic variants since the first pandemic COVID-19 wave. Another example is the evolutionary history and epidemic spread of many bacterial pathogenic species through the acquisition of multiple antibiotic resistance, such as the ESKAPE pathogens. We anticipate the reviews presented will promote discussion in the infectious disease community that will translate to best practice applications in clinical, public health and policy settings.
Reviews in Molecular Evolution of Infectious Agents and Diseases collection welcomes full-length or mini-review papers in the areas of
• Genomic studies on different infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic)
• Selective pressures contributing to the evolution of pathogens (e.g. antibiotic or immune escape variants), and their associated phenotypic changes (e.g. increased virulence, antigenic drift or shift, multiple antibiotic resistance)
• Molecular bases of emergence and epidemic success of infectious agents, role of different genetic factors in pathogenesis of infections
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of genetic elements (e.g. genomic islands, plasmids for bacteria) or mutations (e.g. viral mutations) contributing to the epidemic spread of infectious agents
• Evolutionary history of important pandemic pathogens
• Changes in infectious pathology in relation to the evolution of their respective pathogen
• Genetic and environmental risk factors associated with the disease development and progression
• Identification of circulation and transmission distribution patterns of disease in population
• Latest development in high-throughput technologies to study the molecular markers
Please note that new articles will be added to this collection as they are published.
Reviews in Molecular Evolution of Infectious Agents and Diseases collection welcomes full-length or mini-review papers in the areas of
• Genomic studies on different infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic)
• Selective pressures contributing to the evolution of pathogens (e.g. antibiotic or immune escape variants), and their associated phenotypic changes (e.g. increased virulence, antigenic drift or shift, multiple antibiotic resistance)
• Molecular bases of emergence and epidemic success of infectious agents, role of different genetic factors in pathogenesis of infections
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of genetic elements (e.g. genomic islands, plasmids for bacteria) or mutations (e.g. viral mutations) contributing to the epidemic spread of infectious agents
• Evolutionary history of important pandemic pathogens
• Changes in infectious pathology in relation to the evolution of their respective pathogen
• Genetic and environmental risk factors associated with the disease development and progression
• Identification of circulation and transmission distribution patterns of disease in population
• Latest development in high-throughput technologies to study the molecular markers
Please note that new articles will be added to this collection as they are published.
Keywords: Genomics, molecular epidemiology, epidemic, pandemic, virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites, mobile DNA, genomic island, genome evolution, mutation, chromosome, plasmid, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, adaptation, regulation, antigenic variation, immune escape
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.
