Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.7
3.0
Journals
CIMB
Special Issues
Harnessing Genomic Data for Disease Understanding and Drug Discovery
cimb-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for CIMB Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Harnessing Genomic Data for Disease Understanding and Drug Discovery

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioinformatics and Systems Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 2212

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gaurav Tripathi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Kashi Clinical Laboratory, Portland, OR 97219, USA
Interests: next-generation sequencing; single-cell sequencing; metagenomics; epigenomics; precision medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Genetic data have transformed medicine in recent years with their unparalleled insights into disease mechanisms, patient reactions, and possible treatment targets. The rapid evolution of NGS technologies has revolutionized our ability to decode the human genome, unlocking unprecedented insights into the genetic basis of health and disease. By enabling the comprehensive analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic landscapes, NGS has become a cornerstone of precision medicine. Through large-scale genomic studies, researchers can identify the genetic variants associated with complex diseases, elucidate pathogenic mechanisms, and uncover novel therapeutic targets.

Integrating genomic data with clinical and phenotypic information accelerates the discovery of disease biomarkers and informs patient stratification strategies. This approach enhances drug development pipelines by improving target validation and reducing attrition rates in clinical trials. Moreover, the use of pharmacogenomics offers the possibility of customizing treatments for each patient, increasing effectiveness while reducing side effects. Approaches like multi-omics that integrate genomics with other omics data, such as proteomics and metabolomics, provide a more comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Recent advances in computational biology and artificial intelligence are further enhancing our ability to interpret genomic datasets, leading to more refined disease models as well as informed drug design. Therefore, one can conclude, as we continue to harness the power of genomic data, that we are moving closer to an era where disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are guided by a deep understanding of personalized medicine. Gene therapies like gene editing, cell-based therapies, and RNA-based treatments have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic disorders and other complex diseases.

Dr. Gaurav Tripathi
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Current Issues in Molecular Biology 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 2200 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

  • pharmacogenomics
  • genomics
  • transcriptomics
  • epigenomics
  • drug discovery

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.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

26 pages, 5445 KB  
Article
Exploring Novel Inhibitory Compounds Against Phosphatase Gamma 2: A Therapeutic Target for Male Contraceptives
by Hashim M. Aljohani, Bayan T. Bokhari, Alaa M. Saleh, Areej Yahya Alyahyawi, Renad M. Alhamawi, Mariam M. Jaddah, Mohammad A. Alobaidy and Alaa Abdulaziz Eisa
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080658 - 15 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1271
Abstract
Men have limited options for contraception, despite the widely accepted public health benefits of it, placing the contraceptive burden solely on women. The current study focuses on inhibiting the PP1γ2 enzyme, which plays a role in sperm maturation and motility. The study considered [...] Read more.
Men have limited options for contraception, despite the widely accepted public health benefits of it, placing the contraceptive burden solely on women. The current study focuses on inhibiting the PP1γ2 enzyme, which plays a role in sperm maturation and motility. The study considered three top compounds based on the findings of molecular docking. The three compounds exhibited a good interaction profile with a binding affinity score of D751-0223 (−8.7 kcal/mol), D751-014 (−8.1 kcal/mol), and N117-0087 (−8 kcal/mol) measured in kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) were performed on the PP1γ2–ligand complexes along with the Apo form. The results suggested that all the complexes were stable with no major deviations observed compared to Apo. The average RMSDs for PP1γ2-D751-0223, D751-014, and Apo were 1.27 Å, 1.73 Å, 1.39 Å, and 1.69 Å, respectively. The PP1γ2–ligand complexes were observed with unique salt bridge interactions such as Glu133-Arg137, Asp4-Lys107, Asp188-Arg116, and Glu120-Arg90. The principal component analysis (PCA) findings indicated that every complex had a distinctive motion state. Furthermore, the net MM/PBSA scores for D751-0223, D751-0143, and N117-0087 were −80.01 kcal/mol, −72.18 kcal/mol, and −64.26 kcal/mol, respectively, while the MM/GBSA and MM/PBSA values were −82, −73.07,−67.26 and −80.01, −72.18, −64.26, measured in kcal/mol, respectively. The WaterSwap energy estimation was performed to validate the former technique, and the findings demonstrated that PP1γ2-D751-0223 is a stable complex, with a value of −51.05 kcal/mol. This work provides a baseline to researchers for the identification of novel therapeutic approaches for non-hormonal male contraceptives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Genomic Data for Disease Understanding and Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 906 KB  
Review
The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Neural Development and Cognitive Behavior in Pigeons: Advances and Future Perspectives
by Guanhui Liu, Luyao Li, Su Wang, Jiarong Sun, Yongyan Han, Yaxuan Gao and Dongmei Han
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(4), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48040384 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 188
Abstract
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a key member of the neurotrophin family, is critically involved in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. While its roles in mammals have been extensively documented, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing BDNF expression and its causal contributions to [...] Read more.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a key member of the neurotrophin family, is critically involved in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. While its roles in mammals have been extensively documented, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing BDNF expression and its causal contributions to complex cognitive behaviors remain poorly understood in non-mammalian vertebrates—particularly for the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica), a species distinguished by its remarkable spatial navigation and homing capabilities. This review synthesizes the current evidence on BDNF in the pigeon central nervous system across five thematic domains: molecular structure and isoform diversity, transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory networks, involvement in neural development, associations with cognitive and navigational behaviors, and potential translational applications. A particular emphasis is placed on the region-specific and activity-dependent expression patterns of BDNF in brain structures such as the hippocampal formation (HF), optic tectum, and striatum, and their functional relevance to visual processing, homing behavior, and stress adaptation. To date, most findings remain correlational; therefore, establishing a mechanistic understanding necessitates the integration of advanced methodologies—including single-cell omics, CRISPR-based gene editing, and high-resolution behavioral phenotyping—to causally link BDNF dynamics, neural circuit modulation, and spatial cognition. This synthesis aims to bridge gaps in comparative neurobiology, inform molecular approaches to avian cognitive enhancement, and support evidence-based strategies for racing pigeon breeding and welfare assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Genomic Data for Disease Understanding and Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 3828 KB  
Review
Methodological Landscape of DNA Damage Response Detection: From Conventional Assays to Future Innovations
by Yan Xi, Xinchen Yan, Jiahao Liu, Siqi Li, Xinyang Zhang, Yiwen Hou, Minjie Chu and Minfeng Yang
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(4), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48040339 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
All living organisms possess a DNA damage response (DDR) that is important for genetic evolution. Cells have developed comprehensive mechanisms for addressing DNA damage, collectively called the DNA damage response and repair. External environmental stress continuously disrupts genomic integrity and triggers various pathological [...] Read more.
All living organisms possess a DNA damage response (DDR) that is important for genetic evolution. Cells have developed comprehensive mechanisms for addressing DNA damage, collectively called the DNA damage response and repair. External environmental stress continuously disrupts genomic integrity and triggers various pathological changes. The failure of the DDR network often drives cell carcinogenesis, and its core components not only serve as biological markers for disease monitoring but also represent highly promising molecular targets for targeted therapy. Therefore, there is a high level of interest in exploring DDR-related biomarkers as cutting-edge therapeutic regimens and developing highly sensitive tools for DDR diagnosis. These methods should assess the rate of damage occurrence and distinguish when repair pathways are activated. These kinds of advances are key to preserving genetic stability and detecting and preventing diseases early. Here, we provide a broad summary of recent advances in DDR detection technologies, with a particular focus on the complementarity between different techniques. We have also summarized current technological bottlenecks, future research paradigms, and clinical translation pathways. The insights presented in this review will contribute to the development of multidisciplinary integrated DDR detection technologies, promote the establishment of DDR biomarker detection systems, and provide crucial methodological references for targeted drug development, efficacy evaluation, and resistance mechanism research targeting the DDR pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Genomic Data for Disease Understanding and Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop