Vector–Pathogen Interactions in a Changing World: Implications for Biodiversity and Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue, “Vector–Pathogen Interactions in a Changing World: Implications for Biodiversity and Conservation”, in Conservation. This Special Issue explores how the dynamics of vector-borne diseases intersect with pressing conservation concerns, particularly in the context of climate change, accelerating land-use change, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss.

Vector-borne diseases lie at the intersection of environmental change, biodiversity loss, and human health. This Special Issue brings together ecology, conservation biology, and One Health perspectives to explore the context dependence of vector–pathogen–host interactions and their effects on species variability, ecosystem services, and environmental resilience. We especially encourage submissions that examine these interactions in biodiversity hotspots, protected areas, fragmented landscapes, and rapidly urbanizing regions—particularly in the Global South, where conservation challenges, urban growth, and neglected diseases often converge.

The scope aligns with Conservation's mission to publish high-quality research that addresses biodiversity preservation and sustainable environmental strategies. By bridging ecological and epidemiological perspectives, this Special Issue aims to develop solution-oriented frameworks to inform conservation management.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and short communications are welcome.
Topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:
•    The role of vector-borne diseases in wildlife population dynamics;
•    Climate-induced shifts in vector distribution and emergent disease risks;
•    Spillover effects between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans;
•    Host immune responses in conservation-relevant species;
•    Integrating vector ecology into conservation area management;
•    Surveillance tools and molecular approaches to track vector–pathogen interactions;
•    One Health approaches to conservation and environmental sustainability;
•    Conservation strategies to mitigate zoonotic spillover.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Víctor D. Carmona-Galindo
Dr. Anna M. Groat Carmona
Guest Editors

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. Conservation is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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.

• vector ecology
• zoonotic spillover
• landscape fragmentation
• immunology
• wildlife conservation
• one health
• biodiversity hotspots
• invasive species
• host–pathogen interactions
• molecular epidemiology