DNA Damage, Genome Stability and the Human Disease
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 January 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: genetics; chromosome structure and segregation; DNA repair; cell division
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
DNA is constantly threatened by both endogenous agents like reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exogenous factors (UV rays, ionizing radiation, chemicals) that induce a wide range of lesions daily, including base modifications and single/double-strand breaks. Furthermore, deficiencies in crucial vitamins and minerals can also compromise genomic integrity, leading to DNA lesions and chromosomal instability, similar to the effects of radiation or chemicals. Likewise, in several neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases and syndromes, mutations leading to the loss or aberrant expression of specific proteins can similarly induce DNA damage.
The integrity of our genome is paramount, and its impairment, through various forms of DNA damage, is a major driver of numerous human diseases. Crucially, model organisms have proven invaluable in dissecting these complex mechanisms, enabling the identification of novel genes and therapeutic targets. This special issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research exploring the intricate relationship between DNA damage and human diseases. We invite original research articles and reviews that shed light on the mechanisms by which DNA damage contributes to the initiation and progression of various pathological conditions.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- DNA damage in cancer: its role in mutagenesis, genomic instability, tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance.
- DNA damage in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Aging: DNA damage accumulation as a hallmark of aging and its impact on age-related pathologies.
- Metabolic disorders: the link between DNA damage and conditions like diabetes and obesity.
- Cardiovascular diseases: the involvement of DNA damage in cardiac dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
- Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: the interplay between DNA damage and immune responses.
- Inherited disorders: syndromes characterized by defects in DNA repair pathways.
- Therapeutic strategies: novel approaches targeting DNA damage and repair pathways for disease intervention.
- Biomarkers: identification and validation of DNA damage biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring.
We encourage submissions that employ a variety of experimental approaches, including molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, epigenetics, bioinformatics, and preclinical models. This Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of DNA damage in human health and disease, fostering new insights and collaborations in this critical field.
Dr. Fiammetta Verni
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- DNA damage
- Human diseases
- DNA repair
- Genomic instability
- Therapeutic strategies
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