Evolutionary Genomics of Bacterial Endosymbionts: From Mutualism to Parasitism
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 12
Special Issue Editor
Interests: parasitic nematodes; genome sequencing; genome assembly; comparative genomics; biomarkers; metagenomics; microbiome; evolution; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Bacterial endosymbionts are ubiquitous across the tree of life, forming intimate associations with a wide range of hosts, including insects, marine invertebrates, and even vertebrates. These relationships span a dynamic spectrum—from mutualism to parasitism—and play pivotal roles in shaping host biology, ecology, and evolution.
Despite their significance, the study of endosymbionts presents unique challenges. Many are obligate intracellular organisms, often unculturable outside their hosts. However, advances in genomic technologies—such as whole-genome sequencing, comparative and population genomics, phylogenomics, and co-phylogenetic analyses—have opened new avenues for exploring the complexity of these associations.
This Special Issue invites original research articles and comprehensive reviews that delve into the evolutionary genomics of bacterial endosymbionts, with a focus on understanding the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying transitions along the mutualism–parasitism continuum. We are particularly interested in studies that
- Explore genome reduction, functional specialization, and metabolic interdependence;
- Investigate host–symbiont co-evolution and co-phylogeny;
- Examine the evolutionary origins and transitions between mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, and parasitism;
- Utilize experimental evolution or synthetic biology to model symbiotic interactions;
- Highlight the ecological and evolutionary consequences of symbiosis for both partners;
- Explore other topics aligned with the theme of this Special Issue.
Dr. Amit Sinha
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- host–symbiont coevolution
- metabolic pathways
- horizontal DNA transfer
- phylogenetics
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
