Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
3.3
Journals
Pathogens
Special Issues
Current Advances in Pathogen Diagnosis and Discovery Methods
share announcement

Current Advances in Pathogen Diagnosis and Discovery Methods

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2030

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Cheng Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: pathogen discovery; One Health; emerging infectious diseases; multi-omics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of infectious diseases and the emergence of new pathogens highlight the urgent need for advancements in pathogen diagnosis and discovery. As we enter the post-COVID era, the importance of timely and accurate identification of infectious agents becomes increasingly clear, especially in light of global health challenges. This "Current Advances in Pathogen Diagnosis and Discovery Methods" collection will provide a crucial platform for researchers and practitioners to share innovative methodologies, technologies, and findings in this evolving field. It aims to promote collaboration, disseminate innovative research, and emphasize integrating novel diagnostic approaches with surveillance and response initiatives. By uniting diverse perspectives and expertise, this initiative will enhance our understanding of pathogen dynamics and contribute to developing new diagnostic solutions, ultimately improving global health outcomes.

Dr. Cheng Guo
Guest Editor

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.

Keywords

  • infectious diseases
  • diagnostics
  • omics
  • 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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 1376 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Capture-Based Sequencing Enables Highly Sensitive Zoonotic Virus Detection Within the One Health Framework
by Weiya Mao, Jin Wang, Ting Li, Jiani Wu, Jiangrong Wang, Shubo Wen, Jicheng Huang, Yongxia Shi, Kui Zheng, Yali Zhai, Xiaokang Li, Yan Long, Jiahai Lu and Cheng Guo
Pathogens 2025, 14(3), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14030264 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 693
Abstract
Hybrid capture-based target enrichment prior to sequencing has been shown to significantly improve the sensitivity of detection for genetic regions of interest. In the context of One Health relevant pathogen detection, we present a hybrid capture-based sequencing method that employs an optimized probe [...] Read more.
Hybrid capture-based target enrichment prior to sequencing has been shown to significantly improve the sensitivity of detection for genetic regions of interest. In the context of One Health relevant pathogen detection, we present a hybrid capture-based sequencing method that employs an optimized probe set consisting of 149,990 probes, targeting 663 viruses associated with humans and animals. The detection performance was initially assessed using viral reference materials in a background of human nucleic acids. Compared to standard metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), our method achieved substantial read enrichment, with increases ranging from 143- to 1126-fold, and enhanced detection sensitivity by lowering the limit of detection (LoD) from 103–104 copies to as few as 10 copies based on whole genomes. This method was further validated using infectious samples from both animals and humans, including bovine rectal swabs and throat swabs from SARS-CoV-2 patients across various concentration gradients. In both sample types, our hybrid capture-based sequencing method exhibited heightened sensitivity, increased viral genome coverage, and more comprehensive viral identification and characterization. Our method bridges a critical divide between diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance. These findings illustrate that our hybrid capture-based sequencing method can effectively enhance sensitivity to as few as 10 viral copies and genome coverage to >99% in medium-to-high viral loads. This dual capability is particularly impactful for emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, where early detection and genomic characterization are equally vital, thereby addressing the limitations of metagenomics in the surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in complex samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pathogen Diagnosis and Discovery Methods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1810 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Two Field Deployable PCR Platforms for SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A and B Viruses’ Detection
by Hakim Bouamar, Grace M. Reed, Wanda Lyon, Hector Lopez, Anna Ochoa and Susana N. Asin
Pathogens 2025, 14(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14010027 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 899
Abstract
Background: Respiratory viral infections are a major public health challenge and the most diagnosed medical condition, particularly for individuals living in close proximity, like military personnel. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Biomeme FranklinTM and Truelab® RT-PCR thermocyclers to [...] Read more.
Background: Respiratory viral infections are a major public health challenge and the most diagnosed medical condition, particularly for individuals living in close proximity, like military personnel. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Biomeme FranklinTM and Truelab® RT-PCR thermocyclers to determine which platform is more sensitive and specific at detecting SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses. Methodology: RNA extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs of infected and uninfected individuals was tested on the Biomeme FranklinTM at Lackland and the Truelab® at Wright Patterson Air Force bases. Results: We found an 88% and 71% positivity rate in SARS-CoV-2-infected samples tested on Biomeme and Truelab®, respectively. Likewise, we found a 49% and 80% positivity rate in influenza-positive samples tested on Biomeme and Truelab®, respectively. One hundred percent of uninfected swab samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on both platforms. Conversely, 91% and 100% of uninfected swabs tested negative for flu on Biomeme and Truelab®, respectively. Significance: Differences in specificity and sensitivity in detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza between Biomeme and Truelab® suggest that Truelab® is a more promising and potentially deployable diagnostic platform for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses’ detection in an austere environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Pathogen Diagnosis and Discovery Methods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop