Animal Papillomaviruses in the Omics Era: Pathogenesis, Evolution and Control

Dear Colleagues, 

Animal papillomaviruses (PVs) are highly diverse and widespread pathogens infecting a broad range of domestic animals, wildlife species, and laboratory models, with important consequences for animal health, biodiversity, and comparative oncology. These viruses are responsible for a variety of epithelial lesions, ranging from benign papillomas to malignant carcinomas, making them valuable models for studying virus-induced oncogenesis.

The advent of the omics era—encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and metagenomics—has revolutionized papillomavirus research, enabling unprecedented insights into viral diversity, evolution, and host–virus interactions. High-throughput sequencing and systems biology approaches have uncovered novel PV types, clarified phylogenetic relationships, and revealed molecular mechanisms underlying viral persistence, immune evasion, and disease progression.

This Special Issue aims to gather original research articles and reviews that exploit omics-based methodologies to advance knowledge on animal papillomaviruses, with particular emphasis on pathogenesis, viral evolution, and strategies for prevention and control. We welcome contributions addressing viral genomics and population dynamics, host transcriptomic and proteomic responses, molecular determinants of oncogenicity, cross-species transmission, and virus–host co-evolution. Studies focused on vaccine development, antiviral interventions, diagnostic innovations, and comparative analyses across species are also encouraged.

By integrating multidisciplinary omics approaches, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking overview of animal papillomavirus research, fostering translational perspectives and supporting improved disease control strategies.

Dr. Francesca De Falco
Guest Editor

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