Emerging Topics in Bat-Borne Pathogens
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 601
Editors
Interests: ecology; evolution; conservation of eurasian bats; the role of bats as hosts and vectors of RNA viruses
2. Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Interests: bat-borne pathogens; viral zoonoses; RNA viruses; molecular epidemiology; one health
2. Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: next-generation sequencing; bat virology; viral zoonoses; filoviruses; coronaviruses; zoology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Bats (Order Chiroptera) represent the only mammals capable of true powered flight, a trait that, combined with their heterothermy and physiological flexibility, enables them to inhabit a wide range of environmental conditions. They can roost in synanthropic structures, forests, and subterranean sites. In temperate regions, they form large maternity and winter colonies composed of multiple species. These ecological and biological characteristics facilitate frequent intra- and interspecific interactions, creating favourable conditions for the maintenance, transmission, and evolution of numerous pathogens. As a result, bats serve as important natural reservoirs for a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa of relevance to wildlife and human health.
This Special Issue of Pathogens focuses on advancing knowledge of bat-borne pathogens through multidisciplinary studies conducted within the “One Health” framework. We welcome research addressing the biology, ecology, and geographic distribution of pathogens associated with different bat communities, as well as investigations involving pathogen detection, surveillance, and transmission dynamics. Contributions examining bat roosts across synanthropic, forest, and subterranean environments are particularly encouraged. The goal of this Special Issue is to deepen scientific understanding of bat-associated infectious agents and promote effective strategies for monitoring, prevention, and health risk mitigation.
Dr. Heliana Dundarova
Dr. Youmna M'ghirbi
Dr. Gábor Kemenesi
Guest Editors
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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
- chiroptera
- pathogens
- multispecies bat colonies
- ecology
- one health
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
