Genomics and Epidemiology of Emerging Viruses

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 457

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of High-Risk Pathogens, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
Interests: viral infection; molecular detection; pathogenesis; phylogenetic analysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging viruses continue to pose major threats to global health, driven by rapid genomic evolution, cross-species transmission, and changing ecological and social dynamics. Advances in next-generation sequencing and molecular diagnostics have greatly improved our ability to detect, characterize, and monitor these pathogens. This Special Issue, entitled “Genomics and Epidemiology of Emerging Viruses”, will highlight recent progress in understanding the genetic diversity, evolution, and epidemiology of emerging viral pathogens across human, animal, and environmental interfaces.

We invite original research and reviews focusing on full-genome analyses, hypervariable genomic regions, and comparative studies of vaccine strains. Submissions addressing the development of sensitive and specific diagnostic methods, as well as investigations linking genomic data to outbreak dynamics, transmission routes, and public-health interventions, are particularly encouraged. Studies integrating molecular, epidemiological, and bioinformatic approaches to elucidate viral emergence, adaptation, and spread are also welcome.

Through this Special Issue, we will provide a comprehensive platform for sharing insights that advance surveillance, preparedness, and response to future viral threats.

Dr. Yoon-Seok Chung
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • emerging viruses
  • genomic surveillance
  • molecular epidemiology
  • vaccine strain comparison
  • diagnostic assay development

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 1016 KB  
Article
First Molecular Detection of Orthohantaviruses (Orthohantavirus hantanense and O. jejuense) in Trombiculid Mites from Wild Rodents in the Republic of Korea
by Seong Yoon Kim, Hak Seon Lee, Hyunyoung Yoon and Hee Il Lee
Pathogens 2025, 14(12), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14121260 - 9 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Orthohantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that cause severe diseases in humans primarily through inhalation of aerosols from rodent excreta. Recent studies suggest that ectoparasites may be potential vectors for Orthohantaviruses. This study aimed to obtain molecular evidence of Orthohantavirus in trombiculid mites collected from [...] Read more.
Orthohantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that cause severe diseases in humans primarily through inhalation of aerosols from rodent excreta. Recent studies suggest that ectoparasites may be potential vectors for Orthohantaviruses. This study aimed to obtain molecular evidence of Orthohantavirus in trombiculid mites collected from wild rodents. In April 2025, 4963 trombiculid mites were collected from 128 wild rodents captured in 17 regions of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Among them, 1660 mites were grouped into 204 pools by collection sites and tested for the Orthohantavirus RNA using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-nested PCR. OrthoHantavirus RNA was detected in seven trombiculid mite pools, with a minimum infection rate of 0.4/100 mites. Orthohantavirus hantanense was identified in trombiculid mites from Cheongju, Gimcheon, and Yeongdeok, while O. jejuense was identified in trombiculid mites from Boryeong and Jeongeup. Notably, Orthohantaviruses were not detected in the host rodents of the Orthohantavirus-positive trombiculid mites from Cheongju, Jeongeup, and Gimcheon, indicating host-independent infection. This study is the first to report detection of Orthohantaviruses, O. hantanense and O. jejuense, from trombiculid mites in the ROK. The host-independent infection suggests that these mites could serve as independent vectors/reservoirs for Orthohantaviruses, distinct from previously known transmission routes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Epidemiology of Emerging Viruses)
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