25th Anniversary of IJMS: Updates and Advances in Molecular Microbiology

Dear Colleagues,

The collection of papers present in this anniversary Special Issue of IJMS features some of the most interesting developments in the field of microbiology over the last few decades. Huge progress has been made in genetics and the cloning of genomes of many viruses (bacteriophages), bacteria, and microalgae, which is connected with the latest developments in the immunology of the hosts. It is interesting to investigate how the key nodes of the microbiome–brain–gut axis, when disturbed, influence disease occurrence or stress tolerance in animals and humans. Although the COVID-19 epidemic may have passed, we should continue expanding our knowledge regarding the immune system and immunogenetic control in relation to responses to infections with newly emerging viruses (e.g., Monkeypox virus). This Special Issue also focuses on the development of dedicated approaches to study bacteria–bacteria or bacteria–fungi interactions and their consequences on biofilm pathogenesis tolerance towards antibiotics, as well as heavy metal removal. New antimicrobial agents or new immune mechanisms involved in microbe–host interactions are also welcome. With the aim of stimulating a broad interest in this topic, I strongly urge scientists who are active in the field to read this interesting Special Issue of the journal.

In this Special Issue, we welcome submissions from researchers in the form of original research papers, communications, and review articles on one of the following topics：

Hot Topics and Future Research in Molecular Microbiology

1. Microbiome and Precision Medicine

Personalized probiotic/prebiotic design (metabolic diseases, cancer immunotherapy).

Gut microbiota transplantation (FMT) standardization and efficacy prediction.

2. Environmental Microbiome

Extreme environment microbial adaptation (deep sea, polar, hot springs).

Microbial heavy metal/plastic degradation mechanisms.

3. Virus–Host Interactions

Emerging Viruses:

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and variants (Omicron sublineage), Monkeypox virus (MPXV), Zika virus, Ebola virus, MERS-CoV, Nipah virus, Lassa virus, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), highly-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5N1, H7N9).

Re-emerging Viruses:

Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow fever virus, Measles virus, Poliovirus, Rabies virus, West Nile virus, Hantavirus, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), drug-resistant HIV strains, seasonal influenza viruses (Influenza A/H1N1, H3N2).

Key mutations in host jumping.

Mechanisms of viruses hijacking host organelles (mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.).

Immune escape caused by virus mutation.

Viral reactivation driven by environmental and host factors.

4. AI in Microbiology

Machine learning for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and new antibiotics.

Microbiome big data analysis for disease diagnosis.

5. Mining Microbial Dark Matter

Genomic analysis of uncultured microorganisms.

Discovery of novel microbial elements (promoters, RBS).

Functional exploration of extremophiles.

Prof. Dr. Shu Yuan
Guest Editor

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