Advances in Xenobiotic Toxicity: From Transcriptional Regulation to Reproductive and Behavioural Impacts
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 39
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Xenobiotics are ubiquitous—present in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plastics and industrial by-products. Rather than acting through single, linear mechanisms, xenobiotics influence organisms through complex, multilayered interactions that challenge our understanding of biological systems. This Special Issue will provide a forum for cutting-edge research that moves beyond classical toxicology, incorporating systems biology and innovative experimental models.
We invite contributions that uncover novel mechanisms of toxicity, identify early biomarkers, investigate emerging contaminants, and elucidate xenobiotic–microbiota interactions, particularly in reproductive and behavioral toxicology. Reproductive processes are uniquely sensitive to chemical disruption, with xenobiotics capable of impairing gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo implantation, and fetal development, often through subtle molecular mechanisms that manifest as infertility, developmental abnormalities, or transgenerational effects. Similarly, behavioral outcomes represent a critical but often underappreciated dimension of toxicology: xenobiotics can alter neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity, leading to changes in cognition and social behavior. These outcomes not only affect individual health but also have far-reaching implications for population dynamics, societal functioning, and intergenerational well-being.
While purely clinical studies fall outside the journal’s scope, submissions that combine clinical or model systems with biomolecular investigations are highly encouraged. By uniting interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue will not only advance molecular-level understanding but also inspire new strategies for safeguarding human health and the environment.
Dr. Sylwia Swigonska
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- xenobiotic interactions
- molecular mechanisms of toxicity
- reproductive toxicology
- early biomarkers
- emerging contaminants
- neurobehavioral toxicity
- microbiota–xenobiotic interactions
- biomolecular responses
- environmental health
- molecular toxicology
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