Announcements

20 January 2026
Genes Webinar | From Genes to Systems: Genetic and Epigenetic Control of the Metastatic Cascade, 22 January 2026


This webinar will bring together leading researchers to discuss the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate cancer metastasis across the full metastatic cascade. Speakers will highlight new insights into chromatin remodeling, non-genetic evolution, tumor cell plasticity, metastatic niche formation, circulating tumor cell biology, and dormancy, as well as multi-omics approaches that reveal how these processes interact at a systems level. The session will consist of five short presentations (15 minutes + 5-minute Q&A), emphasizing mechanistic rigor, emerging concepts, and the interplay between tumor-intrinsic programs and the microenvironment. This event accompanies the Special Issue “From Genes to Systems: Genetic and Epigenetic Control of the Metastatic Cascade” in Genes (ISSN: 2073-4425) and aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and inspire high-quality contributions to the field.

Date: 22 January 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. CET to 5:40 p.m. CET | 9:00 a.m. EST to 11:40 a.m. EST
Register in advance for this webinar at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6417677292624/WN_DYpio_DOQn6xh0NOXLz5GA
Webinar ID: 875 9609 0190
Webinar Secretariat:journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6417677292624/WN_DYpio_DOQn6xh0NOXLz5GA

Register now for free!

Program:

Speaker/Presentation

Time in EST

Time in CET

Dr. Eric Rahrmann
Chair Introduction

9:00–9:15 a.m.

3:00–3:15 p.m.

Dr. Lucia Borriello
Chemotherapy Reshapes the Metastatic Niche to Awaken Dormant Tumor Cells

9:15–9:40 a.m.

3:15–3:40 p.m.

Prof. William Brackenbury
Bioelectrical control of breast cancer metastasis by voltage-gated sodium channels

9:40–10:05 a.m.

3:40–4:05 p.m.

Dr. Kaloyan M. Tsanov
Organ-specific Effects of SMAD4 in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

10:05–10:30 a.m.

4:05–4:30 p.m.

Dr. Heloisa Z. Milioli
Androgen Receptor (AR)-mediated Epigenetic Regulation of Cell States in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

10:30–10:55 a.m.

4:30–4:55 p.m.

Dr. Eric Rahrmann
Bioelectric Control of Metastasis: The Emerging Role of NALCN

10:55–11:20 a.m.

4:55–5:20 p.m.

Q&A Session

11:20–11:35 a.m.

5:20–5:35 p.m.

Dr. Eric Rahrmann
Closing of Webinar

11:35–11:40 a.m.

5:35–5:40 p.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Feel free to register anyway; we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

  • Dr. Eric Rahrmann, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA;
  • Dr. Lucia Borriello, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, New York, United States;
  • Prof. William Brackenbury, University of York, York, United Kingdom;
  • Dr. Kaloyan M. Tsanov, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States;
  • Dr. Heloisa Z. Milioli, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.

9 January 2026
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in December 2025


We have expanded our open access portfolio with eight new journals publishing their inaugural issues in December 2025, as well as three journal transfers. These additions span physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, environmental and Earth sciences, medicine and pharmacology, and public health and healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who are shaping these journals’ direction. All journals uphold strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

New Journals

Founding Editor-in-Chief(s)

Journal Topics (Selected)

Dr. Elisa Felicitas Arias,

Université PSL, France

Editorial | view inaugural issue

atomic clocks; time and frequency metrology; GNSS systems; relativity and relativistic timekeeping; fundamental physics in space |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. José F.F. Mendes,

University of Aveiro, Portugal

Editorial | view inaugural issue

complex systems; network science; nonlinear dynamics and chaotic behaviour; information theory and complexity; computational complexity |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Roberto Morandotti,

Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique—Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS), Canada

Editorial | view inaugural issue

light generation; light sources and applications; light control and measurement; human responses to light; lighting design |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Savvas A. Chatzichristofis,

Neapolis University Pafos, Cyprus

Editorial | view inaugural issue

generative AI and large language models in education; multimodal and embodied AI; personalization and adaptive systems; assessment, feedback, and academic integrity; learning analytics |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Jon Andoni Duñabeitia,

Universidad Nebrija, Spain

Editorial | view inaugural issue

cognitive psychology; cognitive neuroscience; psycholinguistics; applied linguistics; experimental psychology |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Caiwu Fu,

Wuhan University, China;

Prof. Dr. Longxi Zhang,

Peking University, China

Editorial | view inaugural issue

cultural practices; cultural theory; cultural policy; cultural heritage; transregional and transnational cultural flows|

view journal scope | submit an article

Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar,

iCREST Environmental Education Foundation, USA

Editorial | view inaugural issue

biosphere interactions, processes, and sustainability; ecosystem science and dynamics; biodiversity conservation; global change and environmental adaptation; biogeochemical cycles |

view journal scope | submit an article

Dr. Giuseppe Mulè,

University of Palermo, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

cardiorenal syndromes; chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease; cardiorenalmetabolic syndrome; hypertension and diabetes in relation to the abovementioned syndromes; diagnostic techniques |

view journal scope | submit an article

Transferred Journals

Editor-in-Chief

Journal Topics (Selected)

Prof. Dr. Peter Matt,

Lucerne Cantonal Hospital (LUKS), Switzerland

Editorial | view first issue

cardiology; cardiovascular and aortic surgery; cardiovascular anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiology;

cardiovascular regenerative and reparative medicine |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Oana Săndulescu,

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania;

National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals”, Romania

Editorial | view first issue

infectious diseases across clinical and public health domains; epidemiology of communicable diseases; clinical microbiology and applied virology; vaccinology and immunization; host–pathogen interactions and immunity |

view journal scope | submit an article

Dr. Roxana Elena Bohiltea,

“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania

Editorial | view first issue

public health; disease prevention; screening and early detection; lifestyle interventions and health education; digital and innovative prevention |

view journal scope | submit an article

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

31 December 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #30 - Scaling with Integrity, Highly Cited Researchers, KEMÖ Consortium, Michele Parrinello, and Best PhD Thesis Awards

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts


With colleagues at MDPI headquarters in Basel, representing the people behind our global growth and shared commitment to integrity.

Scaling with Integrity: A Year of Growth, Responsibility, and Trust

When I look back on 2025, one phrase seems to sum up the year: “Scaling with integrity.” That was our watchword for 2025, and it will remain so as we move forward in to 2026.

Our journal portfolio continued to grow in 2025, reflecting the trust of a widening proportion of the scholarly community.

Today, MDPI has 355 journals indexed in Scopus and 330 in Web of Science – a testimonial to the scale at which our journals meet established external quality criteria. During the year, 45 of our journals were newly accepted into Scopus and 29 into Web of Science (this excludes transferred journals to our portfolio that were already indexed), following rigorous, independent evaluation by the world’s leading indexing bodies

Meeting external quality benchmarks

These results underline the fact that scaling responsibly is not only about expanding our catalogue, but also about meeting external quality benchmarks consistently, transparently, and at scale. Our indexing performance remains one of the strongest independent validations of MDPI’s commitment to rigor, trust, and long-term sustainability.

Over the course of 2025, we made targeted investments to ensure that the integrity of our editorial process scaled to keep pace with our growth. We strengthened our editorial governance by doubling down on our dedicated Publication Ethics department, appointing a Head of Ethics, and expanding our research integrity team by the addition of new specialists plus the creation of embedded editorial ethics roles across key journals. We also introduced new internal ethics guidelines, pre-review integrity checks, and monitoring dashboards to help teams identify potential issues and apply consistent standards across our portfolio.

Besides investing in systems and tools, we of course also invested heavily in our people and culture, delivering organisation-wide training on topics such as image integrity, AI use in publishing, and ethical oversight, while actively engaging with the wider publishing community through COPE and STM forums.

All these efforts reflect a simple principle: growth only matters if it is matched by rigor, responsibility, and trust.

Technology and AI: Supporting the editorial decision-making process

At MDPI, AI is designed to assist, not replace, editorial decision-making. It is one element in a broader system that combines people, technology, and processes to support scale responsibly.

In 2025, we continued to invest heavily in technology that supports quality rather than shortcuts. Our AI team doubled in size, ensuring that increased automation goes hand-in-hand with expertise and oversight. Proprietary AI tools such as Scholar Finder have significantly improved the precision of reviewer matching, while Ethicality has been widely adopted across editorial workflows to identify contextual signals, such as scope alignment and citation behaviour, so that human judgment can be applied where it matters most.

Partnerships: Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreements and Societies

Our recent growth is also reflected in the strength of our partnerships. In 2025, we entered into more than 150 new IOAP agreements, bringing our total to 975 active agreements worldwide. This activity included the signing of our first-ever consortium agreements in North America, renewals of all major national consortia in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Croatia, and the conclusion of several flat-fee agreements. At the same time, we concluded a total of 30 agreements, encompassing 24 new Society affiliations, four strategic publishing partnerships, and two journal acquisitions.

In 2025, we opened MDPI USA in Philadelphia – our latest global office, which complements our Toronto office in representing North America. MDPI USA is responsible for accelerating Open Access in the US through ongoing support of our scholars and for expanding our institutional and society partnerships.

On the other side of the globe, meanwhile, we signed an IOAP agreement in India, allowing researchers discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs), streamlined APC management for universities, and visibility into submissions, supporting India’s push for wider Open Access by offering flexible models and helping institutions meet national mandates such as Plan S.

Sustainability, sponsorships and awards

We continued to expand our sustainability efforts during 2025, hosting the 11th World Sustainability Forum, awarding CHF 125,000 in sustainability-related funding, and launching the Z-Forum on Sustainability and Innovation conference, which will officially take place in January 2026.

We also saw a record year for conference sponsorships and awards (while establishing new awards such as the Michele Parrinello Award), recognising scholars across disciplines and reinforcing our commitment to supporting the global research community at every stage of the academic journey.

Deepening our relationships

In 2025, I had the opportunity to travel more widely than ever before on MDPI business, meeting many of our stakeholders face to face and relishing the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their science communication needs. It was also excellent to visit a large number of MDPI offices and witness the commitment and service orientation of so many of our colleagues around the world. I shall resume my itinerary in the new year, and I look forward to many more such interactions.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will be celebrating a very significant milestone: 30 years of MDPI. From our foundation as a single Open Access journal in 1996 to the global publishing organisation we are today, our mission has remained consistent: advancing Open Access through rigorous and trustworthy scientific communication.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders – authors, Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and reviewers – who have placed their trust in us during 2025. On behalf of the entire MDPI team, I look forward to deepening our relationships yet further in 2026 and celebrating 30 Years of Open Science at MDPI, something we’ve built together.


Basel, Switzerland, where MDPI was founded in 1996.

Impactful Research

621 MDPI Editors Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2025

I am pleased to share an important milestone for our editorial community and for MDPI. In late November, Clarivate announced the 2025 Highly Cited Researchers, and 621 MDPI Editorial Board Members were included among the most influential scientific contributors over the past decade! 

The 621 editors come from 33 countries, representing 21 scientific disciplines, and account for nearly one in every ten Highly Cited Researchers globally. This recognition speaks to the depth of expertise across our Editorial Boards and the strength of the scientific communities that choose to collaborate with MDPI. It is important to note that while citation metrics are not in themselves a proxy for quality, they do offer one lens on sustained scientific influence.

“Our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us”

Why this is important

Having more than 600 editors recognized on this list highlights:

  • The high level of expertise guiding peer review across our journals
  • The global and disciplinary diversity within our Editorial Boards
  • Our commitment to maintaining strong, knowledgeable, and engaged editorial oversight

Impactful science is of course shaped by broad, diverse research communities, and no single metric captures the full picture of research quality. However, this recognition does serve as meaningful, independent affirmation of the calibre of many editors who contribute to MDPI’s work.

A closer look at the recognition

Clarivate’s methodology highlights researchers whose publications rank in the top one per cent by citation count, reflecting consistent influence over the past decade. The process includes:

  • Evaluation of c. 200,000 highly cited papers
  • Removal of retracted publications
  • Filtering of papers with unusually large authorship groups to focus on clear contributions

That so many of our editors meet these thresholds reflects the impact of the communities behind our journals.

What this means going forward

This recognition underlines the fact that our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us.

For authors, partners, and readers, it confirms that:

  • MDPI journals benefit from editorial guidance grounded in active, high-impact research
  • Our Editorial boards include leaders who are helping shape the future direction of their fields
  • MDPI continues to attract experts who value openness, efficiency, and scientific integrity

For our internal teams, it is a reminder that the work we do every day (supporting editors, refining workflows, and improving systems) directly contributes to the trust placed in MDPI by researchers worldwide.

Thank you to all our editorial teams, publishing staff, and journal relationship specialists, and to everyone who collaborates with our Editorial Boards. Achievements like this are only possible because of your ongoing hard work, dedication, and collaboration.


From our first annual MDPI UK Summit in Manchester, bringing together over 30 Chief Editors and Editorial Board Members to discuss MDPI’s mission, achievements, and collaborations in the UK.

Inside MDPI

MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Computational Physical Science

In case you missed it, in November, we announced the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award. This new biennial international award will recognize pioneering contributions in computational physical science. The award honours Michele Parrinello, one of the most influential scientists of the past half-century in atomistic simulations and computational materials research.

This award reflects MDPI’s long-standing commitment to recognizing scientific excellence, supporting foundational research, and inspiring the next generation of scholars across disciplines.

“Be confident that what you do is meaningful”

Honouring a transformative scientific legacy

Professor Parrinello’s work has fundamentally reshaped how scientists model matter at the atomic scale. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, widely known as the Car–Parrinello method, opening new pathways in electronic structure calculations and molecular simulations. His subsequent contributions, including the Parrinello–Rahman method and metadynamics, have become core tools across physics, chemistry, materials science, and increasingly biology.

“Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking, ‘What is going to happen to me?’ and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

 – Professor Michele Parrinello

A global, community-led award

The award committee is chaired by Xin-Gao Gong, Professor of Physics at Fudan University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University will serve as the supporting institute, reinforcing the award’s international and cross-cultural foundation.

Nominations for the first edition of the Michele Parrinello Award opened on 1 November 2025, with submissions accepted until March 2026. The award will recognize scientists whose work has advanced computational physical science across physics, chemistry, and materials research – fields increasingly central to energy, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and technological innovation.

Why this matters for MDPI

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which supports science as a driver of long-term societal progress.

Alongside other foundation-level honours, including the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award, this new prize builds on our role in supporting excellence across career stages and disciplines.

MDPI journals and programs continue to recognize researchers through Best Paper Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. Together, these initiatives reflect a simple belief: strong scientific communities are built through recognition, trust, and sustained support.

As MDPI approaches its 30th anniversary, the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award highlights our commitment not only to publishing research but also to helping shape the future of science by celebrating those who expand its boundaries.

Coming Together for Science

KEMÖ Consortium (Austria) Extends Open Access Agreement with MDPI until 2027

I’m pleased to share that MDPI has renewed its Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreement with the Austrian library consortium KEMÖ, extending our partnership through 2027.

The renewed agreement now includes 23 Austrian institutions, with the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) joining the partnership. Participating institutions benefit from APC discounts across MDPI’s more than 495 journals, with centralized funding options further reducing the administrative burden for researchers and libraries.

“This renewal reflects shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe”

Austria continues to be an important and engaged research community for MDPI, with 525+ Austrian Editorial Board Members, eight Editors-in-Chief, and 15 Section Editors-in-Chief contributing to our journals.

This renewal reflects long-term trust and shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe, and improves MDPI’s collaboration with national OA infrastructures such as the Open Access Monitor Austria. Such long-term agreements show how MDPI’s growth is increasingly built on institutional trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to Open Access.

A big thank-you to the IOAP team and everyone involved in supporting this partnership.

Closing Thoughts

Celebrating the Next Generation of Scholars: MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards

One of the privileges of working in scholarly publishing is supporting the beginning of new scientific journeys. We recently announced the recipients of MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards, recognizing some of the most promising emerging researchers across disciplines.

These awards do more than celebrate academic excellence. They reflect something deeper about our mission: supporting the next generation of authors and the future of Open Science.

Recognition of Excellence

This year, we made awards to 55 early-career researchers across seven fields:

For those of you who have completed a PhD, you’ll know first-hand that behind each number is a story of perseverance, curiosity, and sustained effort. These researchers represent institutions around the world, with thesis topics spanning:

  • Brain–machine interfaces and neural engineering
  • Sustainable materials and next-generation batteries
  • Cancer genomics, tumour microenvironments, and immunotherapy
  • AI-driven image analysis, robotics, and computational models
  • Climate change monitoring and environmental risk assessment
  • Regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and drug development

These dissertations are early signs of the scientific directions that will shape the coming decade.

“Our mission is about building a global community of authors”

Why this is important

Every year, millions of scholars begin their research careers with limited visibility and few platforms for sharing their work. By recognizing outstanding PhD theses, we elevate authors early in their academic journeys, build MDPI’s connection to the global research community, reinforce our commitment to quality and rigor, and highlight the depth and breadth of scholarship published across our portfolio (from biology to materials science to mathematics).

A foretaste of the future

These 55 awardees represent the next generation of researchers whose work will influence science, policy, and society in the years ahead. What we support today helps shape the scientific ecosystem of tomorrow. Our mission goes beyond publishing papers. It is about building a global community of authors who will define the next era of scientific discovery.

To explore more about MDPI Awards, including current and upcoming Best PhD Thesis Awards, please click here.

Thank you to the editors, reviewers, and teams across MDPI who make these awards possible each year.

Everything we achieved this year was made possible by the collective effort of our global teams and the trust placed in us by the scholarly community. Thank you again, and here’s to the successful continuation of our collaboration in 2026!

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

25 December 2025
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, 27 December 2025


International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is an annual observance aimed at enhancing awareness of epidemic prevention, preparedness and response, fostering a deeper recognition of the urgency to strengthen global resilience against infectious disease outbreaks, while also drawing attention to the widespread health, economic and social burdens that epidemics impose—especially on vulnerable populations and under-resourced regions. This day highlights the pivotal role that collective action plays in advancing epidemic surveillance, early warning systems, vaccine and therapeutic development, and equitable access to medical supplies and care, thereby reinforcing the imperative for robust and proactive epidemic preparedness.

Biology & Life Sciences

Medicine & Pharmacology

Environmental & Earth Sciences

Structural Insights into the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Its Implications for Antibody Resistance
by Yuichiro Yamamoto and Kohji Noguchi
Biomolecules 202515(11), 1489; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15111489

HSP60 and SARS-CoV-2: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
by Adelaide Carista, Melania Ionelia Gratie, Francesco Cappello and Stefano Burgio
Biology 202514(9), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14091281

Impact of Obesity on Immunity to the Influenza Virus: Gut Microbiota, Mechanisms, and Novel Therapeutic Strategies
by Xiaoyue Ji and Jing Sun
Diseases 202513(8), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13080267

Immunological Strategies for Enhancing Viral Neutralization and Protection in Antibody-Guided Vaccine Design
by Dimitrina Miteva, Maria Kokudeva, Latchesar Tomov, Hristiana Batselova and Tsvetelina Velikova
Biologics 2025, 5(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/biologics5030021

Manifestations of Post-COVID Syndrome in Healthcare Workers in Northeast England
by Rachael K. Raw, Jon Rees, Deborah Wilson, Sharon Gowans, Ng Cho Ee and David Chadwick
COVID 2025, 5(6), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5060091

Aptamer Development for SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron Variants Using the Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain as a Potential Diagnostic Tool and Therapeutic Agent
by Prasanna V. Shekar, Anuj Kumar, Nirmitee Mulgaonkar, Samneet Kashyap, Gourav Choudhir, Sandun Fernando and Sachin Rustgi
Biomolecules 2025, 15(6), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15060805

The Global Burden of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
by Andrea Marino, Antonino Maniaci, Mario Lentini, Salvatore Ronsivalle, Giuseppe Nunnari, Salvatore Cocuzza, Federica Maria Parisi, Bruno Cacopardo, Salvatore Lavalle and Luigi La Via
Epidemiologia 2025, 6(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia6020021

Intricacies of Global Tuberculosis Management—EndTB-2035 on the Fence?
by Radha Gopalaswamy and Selvakumar Subbian
J. Respir. 2025, 5(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jor5010004

Long COVID: General Perceptions and Challenges in Diagnosis and Management
by Katia Ozanic, Aripuana Sakurada Aranha Watanabe, Alesandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado, Vania Lucia da Silva, Vanessa Cordeiro Dias and Claudio Galuppo Diniz
COVID 2025, 5(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5030041

An Increase in Aspartate Aminotransferase Can Predict Worsening Disease Severity in Japanese Patients with COVID-19
by Kengo Matsumoto, Tsutomu Nishida, Dai Nakamatsu, Masashi Yamamoto, Koji Fukui, Osamu Morimura, Kinya Abe, Yukiyoshi Okauchi, Hiromi Iwahashi and Masami Inada
Clin. Pract. 2024, 14(4), 1601-1614; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14040129

Arbovirus Transmission in Australia from 2002 to 2017
by Elvina Viennet, Francesca D. Frentiu, Emilie McKenna, Flavia Torres Vasconcelos, Robert L. P. Flower and Helen M. Faddy
Biology 2024, 13(7), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070524

Host Innate Antiviral Response to Influenza A Virus Infection: From Viral Sensing to Antagonism and Escape
by Wenlong An, Simran Lakhina, Jessica Leong, Kartik Rawat and Matloob Husain
Pathogens 2024, 13(7), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13070561

Colchicine—The Divine Medicine against COVID-19
by Vanyo Mitev
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(7), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14070756

Towards Improved XAI-Based Epidemiological Research into the Next Potential Pandemic
by Hamed Khalili and Maria A. Wimmer
Life 2024, 14(7), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14070783

Antimicrobial Efficacy of a Portable UV-C-Based Coating Activation Device against Candida albicans Biofilm and SARS-CoV-2 as an Additional Feature: An In Vitro Study
by Adityakrisna Yoshi Putra Wigianto, Megumi Watanabe, Yuki Iwawaki, Takaharu Goto, Tamaki Otsuki and Tetsuo Ichikawa
Hygiene 2024, 4(1), 93-102; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4010006

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Mycoses
Guest Editors: Dr. Yaxsier de Armas, Dr. Enrique J Calderón and Dr. Héctor Raúl Pérez-Gómez
Submission deadline: 31 January 2026

Genetics of Host–Pathogen Interactions
Guest Editors: Dr. Transito Garcia-Garcia and Dr. Sara Zaldívar López
Submission deadline: 15 March 2026

Microorganisms in Neglected Tropical Diseases
Guest Editors: Dr. Ana Abreu-Silva and Prof. Dr. Fernando Almeida-Souza
Submission deadline: 31 March 2026

Ecology and Evolution of Viral Pathogens: From Wildlife to Human Infections
Guest Editor: Dr. Fernando Spilki
Submission deadline: 30 April 2026

Epidemiology of Zoonotic Virus Transmission: Pathways, Host Factors, and Public Health Strategies
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Francisco José Nunes Antunes
Submission deadline: 30 April 2026

Advances in Coronaviruses Research: Pathogenesis, Immunity, and Antivirals
Guest Editor: Dr. Nadine Alvarez
Submission deadline: 31 July 2026

17 December 2025
Meet Us at the Plant & Animal Genome Conference 33 (PAG 33), 9–14 January 2026, San Diego, CA, USA


Conference: Plant & Animal Genome Conference 33
Organization: Scherago International
Date: 9–14 January 2026
Place: Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, CA, USA

MDPI journals will be attending the Plant & Animal Genome Conference 33 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held at the Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, CA, USA, from 9 to 14 January 2026.

The Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG) builds on 30+ years of momentum, bringing together leading scientists and researchers across plant, animal, and related genomic fields. The conference features 6 plenary talks presented by world-renowned authorities in plant and animal genomics; 200+ scientific sessions, industry workshops, and digital tools and resources sessions; a poster gallery; and an expo of companies and organizations in genomics and related industries.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

15 December 2025
Genes | Top Viewed Papers in 2023–2024 in the “Microbial Genetics and Genomics” Section


The Section “Microbial Genetics and Genomics” of Genes (ISSN: 2073-4425) aims to provide a platform for current research on archaea, bacteria, microbial eukaryotes, and viruses. Topics within the scope of this Section include, but are not limited, to basic microbe biology, virology, microbial ecology, and evolution as well as research focused on the clinical significance and industrial applications of microorganisms.

As this journal is open access, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published here. We welcome you to read our top viewed papers published in 2023 and 2024.

1. “Human Genes Involved in the Interaction between Host and Gut Microbiome: Regulation and Pathogenic Mechanisms”
by Luigi Boccuto, Jan Tack, Gianluca Ianiro, Ludovico Abenavoli and Emidio Scarpellini
Genes 2023, 14(4), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14040857
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/4/857

2. “Metagenomics Reveals Specific Microbial Features in Males with Semen Alterations”
by Iolanda Veneruso, Federica Cariati, Carlo Alviggi, Lucio Pastore, Rossella Tomaiuolo and Valeria D’Argenio
Genes 2023, 14(6), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14061228
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/6/1228

3. “Nanopore-Based Direct RNA Sequencing of the Trypanosoma brucei Transcriptome Identifies Novel lncRNAs”
by Elisabeth Kruse and H. Ulrich Göringer
Genes 2023, 14(3), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14030610
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/610

4. “Characterization and Genome Study of a Newly Isolated Temperate Phage Belonging to a New Genus Targeting Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris
by Dziyana Shymialevich, Michał Wójcick, Olga Świder, Paulina Średnicka and Barbara Sokołowska
Genes 2023,14(6), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14061303
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/6/1303

5. “Transcriptome Analysis of Streptococcus mutans Quorum Sensing-Mediated Persisters Reveals an Enrichment in Genes Related to Stress Defense Mechanisms”
by Delphine Dufou, Haowen Li, Siew-Ging Gong and Céline M. Lévesque
Genes 2023, 14(10), 1887; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14101887
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/10/1887

6. “Social Diversification Driven by Mobile Genetic Elements”
by Michael Weltzer and Daniel Wall
Genes 2023, 14(3), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14030648
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/648

7. “Novel Ion Channel Genes in Malaria Parasites”
by Sanjay A. Desai
Genes 2024, 15(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030296
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/3/296

8. “Detection of Macrolide and/or Fluoroquinolone Resistance Genes in Mycoplasma genitalium Strains Isolated from Men in the Northwest Region of Croatia in 2018–2023”
by Sunčanica Ljubin-Sternak, Tomislav Meštrović,Tatjana, Marijan, Maja Anušić, Sandra Šuto and Jasmina Vraneš
Genes 2024, 15(4), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15040470
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/4/470

9. “Functional Roles and Genomic Impact of Miniature Inverted-Repeat Transposable Elements (MITEs) in Prokaryotes”
by Michael F Minnick
Genes 2024, 15(3), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030328
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/3/328

10. “Changes in the Transcriptome and Long Non-Coding RNAs but Not the Methylome Occur in Human Cells Exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi
by Anne Berthold and Vett K. Lloyd
Genes 2024, 15(8), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15081010
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/8/1010

11 December 2025
Article Layout and Template Revised for Future Volumes

We are pleased to announce updates to our article template, aimed at improving the readability and visual appeal of our publications. The following updates will be applied to articles published in volumes in 2026, starting from 19 December 2025.

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9 December 2025
Genes | Invitation to Read the Editor’s Choice Articles in Q1 of 2025


Editor’s Choice Articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal. You are welcome to read the updated 2025 Q1 Editor’s Choice Articles, a curated list of high-quality articles from Genes (ISSN: 2073-4425).

The full list of Editor’s Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/genes/editors_choice.

A list of these papers is provided below:

1. “Liquid Biopsy and Challenge of Assay Heterogeneity for Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in Colon Cancer Treatment”
by Giovanni Crisafulli
Genes 2025, 16(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010071
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/71

2. “Genomic and Transcriptomic Approaches Advance the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases”
by Si-Yuan Song and Zheng Liu
Genes 2025, 16(2), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020135
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/135

3. “Methods for Extracellular Vesicle Isolation: Relevance for Encapsulated miRNAs in Disease Diagnosis and Treatment”
by Elisa Oltra and Maria Ljungström
Genes 2025, 16(3), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030330
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/330

4. “Trophectoderm Biopsy: Present State of the Art”
by Anick De Vos and Neelke De Munck
Genes 2025, 16(2), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020134
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/134

5. “Systematic Review: Fragile X Syndrome Across the Lifespan with a Focus on Genetics, Neurodevelopmental, Behavioral and Psychiatric Associations”
by Ann C. Genovese and Merlin G. Butler
Genes 2025, 16(2), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020149
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/149

6. “Nucleotide Excision Repair: Insights into Canonical and Emerging Functions of the Transcription/DNA Repair Factor TFIIH”
by Amélie Zachayus, Arnaud Poterszman, Jules Loup-Forest and Vincent Cura
Genes 2025, 16(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020231
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/231

7. “The Association Between Statin Drugs and Rhabdomyolysis: An Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Data and Transcriptomic Profiles”
by Ariana Crescitelli, Feng Cheng, Jacob Ward, Kun Bu, Madison Martin, Paola M. Hernandez Velez, Robert Morris, Savanah Wood and Weiru Han
Genes 2025, 16(3), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030248
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/248

8. “Recent Advances in Stroke Genetics—Unraveling the Complexity of Cerebral Infarction: A Brief Review”
by Hiroshi Yamagami, Takeshi Yoshimoto and Yuji Matsumaru
Genes 2025, 16(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010059
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/59

9. “Comparative Study of Statistical Approaches and SNP Panels to Infer Distant Relationships in Forensic Genetics”
by Andreas Tillmar and Daniel Kling
Genes 2025, 16(2), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020114
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/114

10. “The Impact of Klotho in Cancer: From Development and Progression to Therapeutic Potential”
by Ana M. Minaya-Bravo, Carlos Casanova-Martín, Cielo Garcia-Montero, Diego De Leon-Oliva, Diego Liviu Boaru, Laura Lopez-Gonzalez, Melchor Alvarez-Mon, Miguel A. Ortega, Miguel A. Saez, Oscar Fraile-Martinez et al.
Genes 2025, 16(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020128
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/128

11. “Pharmacogenomic and Pharmacomicrobiomic Aspects of Drugs of Abuse”
by Alejandro Borrego-Ruiz and Juan J. Borrego
Genes 2025, 16(4), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040403
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/4/403

12. “Hallmarks of DNA Damage Response in Germination Across Model and Crop Species”
by Andrea Pagano, Conrado Jr Dueñas, Federico Sincinelli, Shraddha Shridhar Gaonkar and Sri Amarnadh Gupta Tondepu
Genes 2025, 16(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010095
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/95

13. “The Prevalence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the AOC1 Gene Associated with Diamine Oxidase (DAO) Enzyme Deficiency in Healthy Newborns: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study”
by Emma Fortes Marin, Laia Martí Melero, Lydia Carrera Marcolin, María Tintoré Gazulla and Mireia Beltran Porres
Genes 2025, 16(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020141
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/141

14. “Cutting-Edge Advances in Cystic Fibrosis: From Gene Therapy to Personalized Medicine and Holistic Management”
by Giulia Pecora, Giuseppe Fabio Parisi, Maria Papale, Monica Tosto, Salvatore Leonardi, Santiago Presti, Sara Manti and Vito Terlizzi
Genes 2025, 16(4), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040402
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/4/402

15. “Lipoprotein Lipase: Structure, Function, and Genetic Variation”
by Adam D. McIntyre, Jian Wang, Robert A. Hegele and Shehan D. Perera
Genes 2025, 16(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010055
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/55

16. “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: New Clinical and Therapeutic Perspectives of an “Old” Genetic Myocardial Disease”
by Chiara Calore, Cristina Basso, Domenico Corrado, Gaetano Thiene and Mario Mangia
Genes 2025, 16(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010074
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/74

17. “The Impact of Storage Conditions on DNA Preservation in Human Skeletal Remains: A Comparison of Freshly Excavated Samples and Those Stored for 12 Years in a Museum Depot”
by Irena Zupanič Pajnič, Tamara Leskovar and Tonja Jeromelj
Genes 2025, 16(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010078
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/78

18. “Hereditary Breast Cancer: Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Prevention Strategies”
by Aliana Guerrieri-Gonzaga, Bernardo Bonanni, Cecilia Altemura, Cristina Zanzottera, Davide Serrano, Eliza Del Fiol Manna, Francesca Fava, Gaetano Aurilio, Irene Feroce, Laura Cazzaniga et al.
Genes 2025, 16(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010082
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/82

19. “Further Development of SAMPDI-3D: A Machine Learning Method for Predicting Binding Free Energy Changes Caused by Mutations in Either Protein or DNA”
by Emil Alexov, Prawin Rimal, Shailesh Kumar Panday and Shamrat Kumar Paul
Genes 2025, 16(1), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010101
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/101

20. “Comparative Analysis of Genomic and Pedigree-Based Approaches for Genetic Evaluation of Morphological Traits in Pura Raza Española Horses”
by Ana Encina, Antonio Molina, Arancha Rodríguez-Sainz de los Terreros, Chiraz Ziadi, Davinia Perdomo-González, Mercedes Valera, Nora Laseca, Pedro Azor and Sebastián Demyda-Peyrás
Genes 2025, 16(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020131
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/131

21. “Exploring miR-21 Knock-Out Using CRISPR/Cas as a Treatment for Lung Cancer”
by Ana R. Rama, Araceli Aguilar-González, Cristina Mesas, Francisco Martín, Javier Moreno and Patricia Lara
Genes 2025, 16(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020133
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/133

22. “Syndromic and Non-Syndromic Primary Failure of Tooth Eruption: A Genetic Overview”
by Clarissa Modafferi, Cristina Grippaudo, Elisabetta Tabolacci and Pietro Chiurazzi
Genes 2025, 16(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020147
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/147

23. “Integrating Machine Learning-Based Approaches into the Design of ASO Therapies”
by Jamie Leckie and Toshifumi Yokota
Genes 2025, 16(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020185
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/185

24. “Exploring the Genotoxic Stress Response in Primed Orphan Legume Seeds Challenged with Heat Stress”
by Alma Balestrazzi, Amine Elleuch, Andrea Pagano, Bassem Khemakhem, Conrado Dueñas, Dimosthenis Chachalis, Eleni Tani, Hanen El Abed, Maria Goufa and Nicolò Bedotto
Genes 2025, 16(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020235
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/235

25. “Genomic Patterns of Homozygosity and Genetic Diversity in the Rhenish German Draught Horse”
by Johanna Sievers and Ottmar Distl
Genes 2025, 16(3), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030327
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/327

26. “Cross-Kingdom Communication via Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Nucleic Acids in Genetically Engineered Nicotiana tabacum
by Carla Emiliani, Cristina Federici, Eleonora Calzoni, Emidio Albertini, Federica Delo, Federica Fratini, Giada Cerrotti, Jacopo Lucci, Lorena Urbanelli, Luana Lugini et al.
Genes 2025, 16(3), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030356
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/356

27. “Cardiac Fibroblasts: Helping or Hurting”
by Akhilesh Kumar, Bhairab N. Singh, Ezequiel Marron Fernandez de Velasco, Mohammad Shameem and Shelby L.Olson
Genes 2025, 16(4), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040381
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/4/381

28. “Toxoplasma Gondii Replication During Belatacept Treatment in Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature”
by Ananya De, Giovanna Capolongo, Giulio Viceconte, Mariadelina Simeoni, Raafiah Izhar, Raffaella Vigilante, Rosa Maria Pollastro and Rossella Di Paola
Genes 2025, 16(4), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040391
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/4/391

29. “Chromosomal rDNA Distribution Patterns in Clonal Cobitis Triploid Hybrids (Teleostei, Cobitidae): Insights into Parental Genomic Contributions”
by Alicja Boroń, Anna Grabowska, Dorota Juchno, Lech Kirtiklis, Olga Jablonska and Sara Duda
Genes 2025, 16(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010068
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/68

30. “Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Identification of Cultivars in Spray-Type Chrysanthemum Based on SSR Markers”
by Jae-A Jung, Manjulatha Mekapogu, So-Hyeon Lim, Su-Young Lee and Youn-Jung Choi
Genes 2025, 16(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010081
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/81

31. “MicroRNAs miR-148a-3p, miR-425-3p, and miR-20a-5p in Patients with IgA Nephropathy”
by Andrzej Pawlik, Ewa Kwiatkowska, Jarosław Przybyciński, Krzysztof Safranow, Leszek Domański, Michał Czerewaty and Violetta Dziedziejko
Genes 2025, 16(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020125
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/125

32. “Combined Effect of Conventional Chemotherapy with Epigenetic Modulators on Glioblastoma”
by Adrian Albulescu, Adriana Plesa, Alina Fudulu, Anca Botezatu, Camelia Mia Hotnog, Iulia Virginia Iancu, Lorelei Brasoveanu, Marinela Bostan and Mirela Mihăilă
Genes 2025, 16(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020138
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/138

33. “Molecular Markers Specific for the Pseudomonadaceae Genera Provide Novel and Reliable Means for the Identification of Other Pseudomonas Strains/spp. Related to These Genera”
by Bashudev Rudra and Radhey S. Gupta
Genes 2025, 16(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020183
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/183

34. “Narrative Review of Genetic and Immunological Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Kimura’s Disease: New Therapeutic Targets”
by Antonella Loperfido, Bruno Fionda, Carlo Cavaliere, Gianluca Bellocchi, Marco Caminati, and Simonetta Masieri
Genes 2025, 16(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020194
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/194

35. “Molecular Review of Suspected Alport Syndrome Patients—A Single-Centre Experience”
by Beata Chałupczyńska, Dorota Siestrzykowska, Dorota Wicher, Elżbieta Ciara, Ewelina Bielska, Grażyna Kostrzewa, Katarzyna Iwanicka-Pronicka, Krystyna Chrzanowska, Łukasz Obrycki, Michał Pac et al.
Genes 2025, 16(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020196
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/196

36. “Product Speculation from Carotenogenic Gene Cluster of Nonlabens spongiae Genome, and Identification of Myxol and Functional Analysis of Each Gene”
by Daiki Mineo, Keisuke Nakazawa, Kenjiro Sugiyama, Shinichi Takaichi, Susumu Yoshizawa and Takuya Harayama
Genes 2025, 16(2), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020202
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/202

37. “Advances in Understanding the Karyotype Evolution of Tetrapulmonata and Two Other Arachnid Taxa, Ricinulei and Solifugae”
by Alexander V. Gromov, Alexandr Sember, Azucena C. Reyes Lerma, František Šťáhlavský, Iva Vrbová, Ivalú M. Ávila Herrera, Jairo A. Moreno-González, Jana Musilová, Jiří Král, José G. Palacios Vargas et al.
Genes 2025, 16(2), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020207
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/207

38. “Retinal Disease Variability in Female Carriers of RPGR Variants Associated with Retinitis Pigmentosa: Clinical and Genetic Parameters”
by David C. Sousa, Fred K. Chen, Jasleen K. Jolly, Jennifer A. Thompson, Lauren N. Ayton, Myra B. McGuinness, Sena A. Gocuk, Terri L. McLaren, Thomas L. Edwards and Tina M. Lamey
Genes 2025, 16(2), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020221
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/221

39. “Chromatin Remodulator CHD4: A Potential Target for Cancer Interception”
by Chinthalapally V. Rao, Karthikkumar Venkatachalam, Krishnendu Goswami, Surya P. Singh and Venkateshwar Madka
Genes 2025, 16(2), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020225
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/225

40. “Genetics of Gallstones”
by Adam Czaplicki, Adam Przybyłkowski and Agnieszka Pęczuła
Genes 2025, 16(3), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030256
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/256

41. “Targeting Optimal Bone Regions: Correlations Between Bone Density and DNA Quality in Small Skeletal Elements”
by Eva Podovšovnik, Irena Zupanič-Pajnič, Vladka Salapura and Živa Miriam Geršak
Genes 2025, 16(3), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030291
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/291

42. “Curious Dichotomies of Apolipoprotein E Function in Alzheimer’s Disease and Cancer—One Explanatory Mechanism of Inverse Disease Associations?”
by Abigail J. Harland, Claire M. Perks, Ellie O’Sullivan, Emily Gill, Gideon Stone, Haonan Li, Mai Alhadrami, Mary Grishaw, Omar Alkahtani, Patrick G. Kehoe, Peter Henley, Rachel M. Barker and Xiaoyu Su
Genes 2025, 16(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030331
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/331

43. “Relationship Between Vitamin D Receptor Gene BsmI Polymorphism and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Total Levels in Slovak Postmenopausal Women with Reduced Bone Mineral Density”
by Anna Piotrowska, Bernadeta Jędrzejkiewicz, Hedviga Hrušovská, Lenka Anderková, Ľudmila Mikulová, Marta Mydlárová Blaščáková, Olga Czerwińska-Ledwig and Zuzana Lőrinczová
Genes 2025, 16(3), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16030337
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/3/337

44. “Screening Methods to Discover the FDA-Approved Cancer Drug Encorafenib as Optimally Selective for Metallothionein Gene Loss Ovarian Cancer”
by Amy Rees, Andrew Disharoon, Clare Fallon, Della Evans, Evan Villamor, Joe R. Delaney, Mirna Mina-Abouda, Monika Gooz and Scott T. Eblen
Genes 2025, 16(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010042
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/42

45. “The Plethora of RNA–Protein Interactions Model a Basis for RNA Therapies”
by Hua Cui, Jia Sheng, Ricky P. Dartawan and Stephen J. Dansereau
Genes 2025, 16(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010048
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/48

46. “Pan-Cancer Upregulation of the FOXM1 Transcription Factor”
by Arianna Bellezza, Daniele Pozzobon and Federico M. Giorgi
Genes 2025, 16(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010056
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/56

47. “Novel OTOG Variants and Clinical Features of Hearing Loss in a Large Japanese Cohort”
by Akira Ganaha, Fumio Takada, Hiroshi Futagawa, Kazuma Sugahara, Kentaro Egusa, Kotaro Ishikawa, Kyoko Nagai, Masato Teraoka, Mayuri Okami, Shin Masuda et al.
Genes 2025, 16(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010060
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/60

48. “Expanding the Molecular Spectrum of MMP21 Missense Variants: Clinical Insights and Literature Review”
by Beatrice Spedicati, Domizia Pasquetti, Federica Perino, Giorgia Girotto, Marco Bobbo, Paola Tesolin, Stefania Zampieri and Thomas Caiffa
Genes 2025, 16(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010062
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/62

49. “22q11.21 Deletions: A Review on the Interval Mediated by Low-Copy Repeats C and D”
by Angelo Valetto, Annalisa Legitimo, Francesca Cambi, Giorgio Costagliola, Rita Consolini and Veronica Bertini
Genes 2025, 16(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010072
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/72

50. “The X-Linked Tumor Suppressor TSPX Regulates Genes Involved in the EGFR Signaling Pathway and Cell Viability to Suppress Lung Adenocarcinoma”
by Hui Kong, Tatsuo Kido and Yun-Fai Chris Lau
Genes 2025, 16(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010075
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/75

51. “Chromosome 4 Duplication Associated with Strabismus Leads to Gene Expression Changes in iPSC-Derived Cortical Neurons”
by Ashish Jain, Liang Sun, Mary C. Whitman, Mayra Martinez-Sanchez, Sampath Vemula, Shira Rockowitz and William Skarnes
Genes 2025, 16(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010080
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/80

52. “Identifying Genetic Predisposition to Dozer Lamb Syndrome: A Semi-Lethal Muscle Weakness Disease in Sheep”
by Brenda M. Murdoch, David S. Biller, Holly Neaton, Kathleen M. Ewert, Margaret A. Highland and Morgan R. Stegemiller
Genes 2025, 16(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010083
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/83

53. “Casein Kinase I Protein Hrr25 Is Required for Pin4 Phosphorylation and Mediates Cell Wall Integrity Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
by Amita Bhattarai, Manika Bhondeley and Zhengchang Liu
Genes 2025, 16(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010094
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/94

54. “History of Biological Databases, Their Importance, and Existence in Modern Scientific and Policy Context”
by Jan Krzysztof Nowak, Jarosław Walkowiak, Karolina Wielgus, Marlena Szalata, Mikołaj Danielewski and Ryszard Słomski
Genes 2025, 16(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16010100
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/1/100

55. “Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Histone Acetyltransferases and Deacetylases in Cucumber, and Their Implication in Developmental Processes”
by Aparna, Agnieszka Skarzyńska-Łyżwa, Magdalena Pawełkowicz, Maksymilian Pisz, Szymon Turek and Wojciech Pląder
Genes 2025, 16(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020127
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/127

56. “16q24.3 Microdeletions Disrupting Upstream Non-Coding Region of ANKRD11 Cause KBG Syndrome”
by Aiko Iwata-Otsubo, Alyssa L. Rippert, Cara M. Skraban, Christopher Gray, Elaine H. Zackai, Holly A Dubbs, Jorune Balciuniene, Kosuke Izumi, Laura K. Conlin, Matthew A. Deardorff, Preetha Markose, Robert Chen and Sarah K. Fiordaliso
Genes 2025, 16(2), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020136
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/136

57. “Genetic Overlap of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Intracranial Aneurysms”
by Afsheen Nasir, Alexandra Sonsino, Asanish Kalyanasundaram, Bulat A. Ziganshin, John A. Elefteriades, Mah I Kan Changez, Mohammad A. Zafar and Syeda Manahil Jeoffrey
Genes 2025, 16(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020154
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/154

58. “An Actively Homing Insertion Element in a Phage Methylase Contains a Hidden HNH Endonuclease”
by Danielle Arsenault, Johann Peter Gogarten and Sophia P. Gosselin
Genes 2025, 16(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020178
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/178

59. “Evaluation of Prenatal Transportation Stress on DNA Methylation (DNAm) and Gene Expression in the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) Axis Tissues of Mature Brahman Cows”
by Audrey L. Earnhardt-San, Charles R. Long, David G. Riley, Emilie C. Baker, Kubra Z. Cilkiz, Noushin Ghaffari, Penny K. Riggs, Rodolfo C. Cardoso, Ronald D. Randel and Thomas H. Welsh
Genes 2025, 16(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020191
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/191

60. “The POLG Variant c.678G>C; p.(Gln226His) Is Associated with Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Fibroblasts Derived from a Patient Compared to a First-Degree Relative”
by Çağla Çakmak Durmaz, Felix Langerscheidt, Hans Zempel, Imra Mantey, Katharina Burghardt, Mert Karakaya and Naomi Baba
Genes 2025, 16(2), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16020198
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16/2/198

 

1 December 2025
World AIDS Day, 1 December 2025


1 December is World AIDS Day, the day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care around the world. It has become one of the most widely recognized international health days.

In recognition of this day, we recommend the following related articles, Special Issues, and journals spanning multidisciplinary fields, including clinical medicine and biology. We believe that sharing such research can raise the public’s awareness and understanding of AIDS. The aim is to strengthen scientific cooperation in response to increased awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

Biology & Life Science Medicine & Pharmacology Social Science, Art and Humanities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

Progress and Challenges in HIV-1 Vaccine Research: A Comprehensive Overview
by Alex C. Boomgarden and Chitra Upadhyay
Vaccines 2025, 13(2), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13020148

Drug-Drug Interactions Between HIV Antivirals and Concomitant Drugs in HIV Patients: What We Know and What We Need to Know
by Emanuela De Bellis, Danilo Donnarumma, Adele Zarrella, Salvatore Maria Mazzeo, Annarita Pagano, Valentina Manzo, Ines Mazza, Francesco Sabbatino, Graziamaria Corbi, Pasquale Pagliano et al.
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010031

High Prevalence of High-Risk HPV Among People with and Without HIV: Insights into Risk Factors for Tailored Screening Approaches
by Elena Bruzzesi, Federica Gandini, Sara Diotallevi, Riccardo Lolatto, Massimo Cernuschi, Caterina Candela, Angelo Roberto Raccagni, Flavia Passini, Andrea Marco Tamburini, Roberto Burioni et al.
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122571

Association Between Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Positive Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy
by Madalina-Ianca Suba, Bogdan Hogea, Ahmed Abu-Awwad, Voichita Elena Lazureanu, Ovidiu Rosca, Daniela Gurgus, Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin and Alina Abu-Awwad
Diseases 2024, 12(12), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12120313

NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
by Randilea Nichols Doyle, Vivian Yang, Yetunde I. Kayode, Robert Damoiseaux, Harry E. Taylor and Oliver I. Fregoso
Viruses 2024, 16(11), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111783

HIV Self-Testing: A Discussion on the Benefits, Limitations, and Implications for Public Health with a Focus on Poland
by Aleksandra Kozieł, Igor Domański, Aleksandra Szymczak, Tomasz Dudzik, Brygida Knysz and Bartosz Szetela
Diagnostics 2024, 14(22), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14222475

Tumor Initiation and Progression in People Living on Antiretroviral Therapies
by Seun E. Olufemi, Daniel A. Adediran, Temitope Sobodu, Isaac O. Adejumo, Olumide F. Ajani and Elijah K. Oladipo
Biologics 2024, 4(4), 390-406; https://doi.org/10.3390/biologics4040024

J3ExoA: A Novel Anti-HIV Immunotoxin Fusion of Anti-Gp120 J3VHH and PE38 Fragment of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A
by Seth H. Pincus, Kun Luo, Tami Peters, James T. Gordy, Frances M. Cole, Grant Klug, Kelli Ober, Tamera K. Marcotte and Richard B. Markham
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(9), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18091305

A Memo on Factors Associated with Perception of Stigma Attached to PrEP: Evidence from the Keeping It LITE Study
by Shahin Davoudpour, Gregory L. Phillips II, Pedro A. Serrano, Audrey L. French and Sybil G. Hosek
Sexes 2024, 5(3), 300-316; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes5030023

Effects of E-Cigarettes on the Lung and Systemic Metabolome in People with HIV
by Aline Zaparte, Courtney J. Christopher, Connie Arnold, Lauren Richey, Adairre Castille, Kyle Mistretta, Christopher M. Taylor, Huiyi Lin, Steve Nelson, John P. Kirwan, John W. Apolzan, Shawn R. Campagna and David A. Welsh
Metabolites 2024, 14(8), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14080434

Bone Tissue Changes in Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS: The Importance of a Hierarchical Approach in Investigating Bone Fragility
by Jelena Jadzic, Gordana Dragovic, Relja Lukic, Bozana Obradovic and Marija Djuric
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(8), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14080791

Advanced Therapies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
by Daniel Josef Lindegger
Med. Sci. 2024, 12(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci12030033

Antiretroviral Therapy Switch in HIV-Infected Adults from a Regional HIV/AIDS Center in NE Romania
by Isabela Ioana Loghin, Șerban Alin Rusu, Andrei Vâţă, Mihaela Cobaschi, Ion Cecan, Carmen Manciuc and Carmen Mihaela Dorobăţ
Medicina 2024, 60(6), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60060854

Alterations in the Gut Microbiome Composition of People Living with HIV in the Asia–Pacific Region: A Systematic Review
by Paul Benedic U. Salvador, Patrick Josemaria d. R. Altavas, Mark Angelo S. del Rosario, Eric David B. Ornos and Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio
Clin. Pract. 2024, 14(3), 846-861; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14030066

Systematic Review: HIV, Aging, and Housing—A North American Perspective, 2012–2023
by Arthur S. Chaminuka, Gayle Prybutok, Victor R. Prybutok and William D. Senn
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12100992

The Role of MicroRNAs in HIV Infection
by Nicolas Morando, Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit, Maria A. Pando and Jens Allmer
Genes 2024, 15(5), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15050574

HIV-TB Co-Infection and Pediatric Pathogen Dynamics
Guest Editor: Dr. Boris Kevin Tchounga
Submission deadline: 15 March 2026

HIV Expression in Diverse Cell Types: Mechanisms, Regulation, and Pathogenesis
Guest Editor: Dr. Rosemary Kiernan
Submission deadline: 20 March 2026

Research on HIV/AIDS Vaccine
Guest Editors: Dr. Portia Chipo Mutevedzi and Dr. Nagesh Kolishetti
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026

Gene and Cell Therapy: New Findings from Medical Research and Treatment
Guest Editors: Dr. Lorella Tripodi and Dr. Antonio Di Stasi
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Emerging Knowledge on Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Guest Editors: Dr. Giota Lourida and Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Paraskevis
Submission deadline: 22 July 2026

Nutrition Intervention in HIV Patients
Guest Editors: Dr. Meena Mahadevan
Submission deadline: 10 August 2026

28 November 2025
Genes | Top Viewed Papers Published in 2023–2024 in the “RNA” Section


The “RNA” Section of Genes (ISSN: 2073-4425) is dedicated to publishing research on RNA cellular functions via molecular, biochemical, and computational approaches, covering non-coding RNA, RNA–protein interactions, structural analysis, bioinformatics, and RNA-based regulatory networks/modeling.

All papers are in an open access format, granting our readers free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our top viewed papers published in 2023 and 2024, which are listed below.

1. “miRNAs: The Road from Bench to Bedside
by Giuseppe Iacomino
Genes 2023, 14(2), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020314
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/2/314

2. “Towards a Cure for HARS Disease
by Sarah D. P. Wilhelm, Rosan Kenana, Yi Qiu, Patrick O’Donoghue and Ilka U. Heinemann
Genes 2023, 14(2), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020254
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/2/254

3. “Genome-Wide Analysis on Driver and Passenger RNA Editing Sites Suggests an Underestimation of Adaptive Signals in Insects
by Yuchen Zhang and Yuange Duan
Genes 2023, 14(10), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14101951
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/10/1951

4. “Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Modulate miR-21, miR-106, miR-126, miR-155 and miR-199 Levels in MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 Cells That Makes Them Potential Elements of the DNA-Damaging Drug Treatment Response Monitoring in Breast Cancer Cells—A Preliminary Study
by Anna Mizielska, Iga Dziechciowska, Radosław Szczepański, Małgorzata Cisek, Małgorzata Dąbrowska, Jan Ślężak, Izabela Kosmalska, Marta Rymarczyk, Klaudia Wilkowska, Barbara Jacczak et al.
Genes 2023, 14(3), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14030702
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/702

5. “Construction of Fusion Protein for Enhanced Small RNA Loading to Extracellular Vesicles
by Masoumeh Es-Haghi, Olga Neustroeva, Iftekhar Chowdhury, Pia Laitinen, Mari-Anna Väänänen, Nea Korvenlaita, Tarja Malm, Mikko P. Turunen and Tiia A. Turunen
Genes 2023, 14(2), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020261
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/2/261

6. “Role of Circulating microRNAs in Liver Disease and HCC: Focus on miR-122
by Francesco Colaianni, Veronica Zelli, Chiara Compagnoni, Martina Sara Miscione, Mario Rossi, Davide Vecchiotti, Monica Di Padova, Edoardo Alesse, Francesca Zazzeroni and Alessandra Tessitore
Genes 2024, 15(10), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101313
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/10/1313

7. “Therapeutic Implication of miRNAs as an Active Regulatory Player in the Management of Pain: A Review
by Mubashir Hassan, Saba Shahzadi, Muhammad Yasir, Wanjoo Chun and Andrzej Kloczkowski
Genes 2024, 15(8), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15081003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/8/1003

8. “Hmo1 Promotes Efficient Transcription Elongation by RNA Polymerase I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
by Abigail K. Huffines and David A. Schneider
Genes 2024, 15(2), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15020247
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/247

9. “Associations of Maternal Breastmilk microRNAs and Infant Obesity Status at 1 Year
by Emily Van Syoc, Molly Stegman, Rhea Sullivan, Alexandra Confair, Kaitlyn Warren and Steven D. Hicks
Genes 2024, 15(6), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15060813
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/6/813

10. “The Role of RNA Splicing in Liver Function and Disease: A Focus on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
by Dorota Kaminska
Genes 2024, 15(9), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15091181
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/9/1181

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