Pathogen Infections in Aquatic Animals—Advanced Detection Technologies, Precision Identification, and Pathogenic Mechanisms

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogen infections in aquatic animals involve the invasion and proliferation of various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which thrive in aquatic environments and cause diseases in fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic organisms. These pathogens often pose significant threats to global aquaculture industries, leading to substantial economic losses and ecological imbalances.

This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge original research and comprehensive reviews on the intricate challenges posed by microbial pathogens in aquaculture and natural aquatic ecosystems. It will directly align with the journal’s aims and scope, as the exploration of pathogen isolation and identification, the development of robust detection methods, and the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms are central to advancing our understanding of aquatic animal health and disease management. By bringing together diverse research in these critical areas, this Special Issue will contribute to the development of novel strategies for disease prevention, control, and treatment, thereby promoting sustainable aquaculture and safeguarding aquatic ecosystems. Its scope will be sufficiently focused to enable the compilation of a cohesive collection of high-quality articles yet broad enough to encourage contributions from a variety of disciplines.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. The isolation and identification of novel and emerging pathogens affecting aquatic animals.
2. The development and validation of advanced diagnostic tools and rapid detection methods for aquatic animal pathogens (e.g., PCR-based assays, CRISPR-based diagnostics, biosensors, and immunological methods).
3. The molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, host–pathogen interactions, and immune responses in aquatic animals.
4. Studies on pathogen virulence factors and their roles in disease progression.
5. The epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and risk assessment of aquatic animal diseases.
6. The development of effective vaccines, probiotics, prebiotics, and other prophylactic or therapeutic strategies to combat aquatic animal infections.
7. Antimicrobial resistance in aquatic pathogens and strategies for its mitigation.
8. The ecological impacts of pathogen outbreaks on wild aquatic populations and ecosystems.
9. Genomic and proteomic approaches to understanding aquatic animal diseases.
10. Innovative approaches to disease surveillance and ensuring biosecurity in aquaculture.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lu-Sheng Xin
Dr. Changming Bai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• aquatic pathogen
• pathogen detection
• omics technology
• bacteriostasis
• seafood safety
• bio-safety