Evolutionary Genetics of Pathogens
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 17
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Genetic evolution is a central determinant of pathogenicity in microbial organisms, shaping their capacity to colonize hosts, evade immunity, and adapt to selective pressures. Key evolutionary processes contribute to the diversification of virulence traits across bacterial species. Recent advances in computational biology have substantially enhanced our ability to characterize these mechanisms. Comparative genomics, pangenome analyses, phylogenetic inference, and machine learning-based prediction models now enable high-resolution identification of virulence-associated genes, mobile genetic elements, and signatures of selection that influence pathogenic behavior.
This Special Issue focuses on the evolutionary drivers of pathogenicity with an emphasis on computational and genomic methodologies. Contributions will examine how large-scale genomic datasets and integrative analytical frameworks elucidate the molecular determinants of virulence and clarify the evolutionary pathways through which pathogens acquire or optimize harmful traits. By highlighting in silico approaches, this Special Issue aims to provide an updated and comprehensive perspective on the role of genome evolution in the emergence and persistence of infectious diseases.
Subtopics:
– Comparative and pangenome analyses of virulence determinants.
– Machine learning prediction of pathogenic and resistance traits.
– Genomic identification of horizontally acquired virulence genes.
– Evolution of regulatory networks involved in pathogenicity.
– Computational detection of adaptive evolution in microbial genomes.
Dr. Leonardo Gabriel Panunzi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- pathogenicity
- genome evolution
- horizontal gene transfer
- virulence factors
- comparative genomics
- pangenome analysis mobile genetic elements
- computational biology
- machine learning
- host–pathogen interactions
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