COVID-19 and Pathogens: Interactions, Associations, and Implications

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant worldwide morbidity and mortality. As the pandemic persists, there is emerging evidence suggesting associations and co-infections with other pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungal pathogens [1–4]. Furthermore, viral infections other than SARS-CoV-2 have also been reported to be associated/reactivated with the administration of COVID-19 vaccination [5–7], and syndromes such as ‘long COVID syndrome’ [8].

This Special Issue aims to serve as a nidus for delineating the possible interactions and associations between COVID-19 and human pathogens, as well as the implications of the relationships between these pathogens. We will consider submissions of bench, translational and clinical research performed in animals or humans, in the form of original research articles (retrospective studies, prospective studies, or correspondences), reviews (systematic reviews, scoping reviews, or narrative reviews), case series, case reports, short letters, and images. 

Suggested topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Associations between pathogens and COVID-19 infection, management/treatment of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination;
• Associations between COVID-19 and immunocompromised hosts with pathogenic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis;
• Clinical implications and complications of these relationships between COVID-19 and pathogens;
• Associations of human pathogens with long- or post-COVID syndrome;
• Immune responses to co-infection with COVID-19 and pathogens;
• Mechanisms of interactions between pathogens and COVID-19 infection or vaccines. 

We hope that this Special Issue will provide researchers with the opportunity to publish their novel findings in this rapidly evolving area. We also hope to bring to light the insights on the relationship between COVID-19 infection and pathogens, with the goal of deepening our understanding of this pathogen that has caused an unprecedented global crisis. 

We look forward to receiving your contribution. 

References

1. Zhu X, Ge Y, Wu T, Zhao K, Chen Y, Wu B, et al. Co-infection with respiratory pathogens among COVID-2019 cases. Virus Res. 2020; 285: 198005.
2. Chen X, Liao B, Cheng L, Peng X, Xu X, Li Y, et al. The microbial coinfection in COVID-19. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020; 104: 7777-85.
3. Chen T, Song J, Liu H, Zheng H, Chen C. Positive Epstein-Barr virus detection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 10902.
4. Langford BJ, So M, Raybardhan S, Leung V, Westwood D, MacFadden DR, et al. Bacterial co-infection and secondary infection in patients with COVID-19: a living rapid review and meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020; 26: 1622-9.
5. Lensen R, Netea MG, Rosendaal FR. Hepatitis C Virus Reactivation Following COVID-19 Vaccination - A Case Report. Int Med Case Rep J. 2021; 14: 573-6.
6. Fathy RA, McMahon DE, Lee C, Chamberlin GC, Rosenbach M, Lipoff JB, et al. Varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus reactivation post-COVID-19 vaccination: a review of 40 cases in an International Dermatology Registry. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022; 36: e6-e9.
7. Santovito LS, Pinna G. A case of reactivation of varicella-zoster virus after BNT162b2 vaccine second dose? Inflamm Res. 2021; 70: 935-7.
8. Gold JE, Okyay RA, Licht WE, Hurley DJ. Investigation of Long COVID Prevalence and Its Relationship to Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation. Pathogens. 2021; 10.

Prof. Dr. Qiang Liu
Dr. Tzy Harn Chua
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 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. 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 2200 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.

• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• infection, pathogenesis, transmission, epidemiology, evolution
• clinical presentation, investigation, management, treatment
• vaccines
• long/post-COVID syndrome
• bacteria
• fungus
• comorbidity