Molecular Insights into Zoonotic Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases continue to ravage human lives, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is believed to have been in existence for several thousand years. TB continues to cause 2 million deaths every year and 10 million new cases annually worldwide.

Zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) is a form of TB in people caused by Mycobacterium bovis, which belongs to the M. tb complex. It often affects sites other than the lungs (extrapulmonary), but in many cases, it is clinically indistinguishable from TB caused by M. tb. Within animal populations, M. bovis is the causative agent of bovine TB. It mainly affects cattle, which are the most important animal reservoir, and can become established in wildlife. The disease results in important economic losses and trade barriers with a major impact on the livelihoods of poor and marginalized communities.

M. marinum, an atypical mycobacterium and a causative agent of fish tank granuloma, is transmitted from fish to humans. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in the neglect of several infectious diseases including TB and malaria. As the world tries to emerge from the pandemic, it is important to ensure that the entire world has access to health care to prevent future pandemics.

This Special Issue is dedicated to molecular-level research on host-pathogen interactions, pathogenesis, and the mechanisms of acute and chronic infections, with a focus on zoonotic diseases. We encourage submissions that explore the molecular aspects of human-animal interactions and the transmission of bacteria and viruses from animals to humans.

We welcome articles on the most recent advances in the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds and repurposed drugs that can potentially be utilized against infectious agents.We also invite submissions on preclinical and clinical research findings obtained from mechanistic studies. Since IJMS is a journal of molecular science, purely clinical studies and epidemiology will not suitable. However, clinical or pure model submissions with biomolecular experiments are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman
Guest Editor

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