Molecular Diagnostics for Tropical Infectious Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Tropical infectious diseases predominantly occur in regions located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries. These diseases are responsible for approximately 15 million deaths each year and are closely associated with inadequate housing, malnutrition, and weak healthcare systems. The causative agents include parasites (Malaria, Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis, etc.), viruses (Dengue, Zika, Chikunguya, and Ebola, etc.), bacteria (Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Typhoid Fever, etc.), and fungi (Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Sporotrichosis, etc.).

Of growing concern is the fact that tropical diseases are no longer confined to tropical regions. Increased global migration, tourism, and work-related travel have facilitated their spread to non-endemic areas, with individuals with no travel history but who may reside near international airports or have contact with infected travelers acting as vectors. Furthermore, several of these diseases do not present early symptoms, as infectious agents have long incubation periods, sometimes extending for years or even decades, further hampering early detection and control efforts.

Considering these challenges, there is a critical need for advanced molecular diagnostic tools characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. These tools, which enable the direct detection of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) and pathogen-specific proteins, are essential for the early identification of infections. Accurate and timely diagnosis not only facilitates appropriate clinical management and treatment but also plays a pivotal role in epidemiological surveillance, the containment of disease spread, and reduction in associated mortality.

One of the most widely used techniques for nucleic acid detection is PCR, employed due to its high sensitivity. However, in recent years, alternative methods based on the same principle of nucleic acid amplification have been developed. These methods offer advantages such as single-temperature incubation, enabling portability and reducing infrastructure costs. Some of these isothermal amplification techniques include LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification), RPA (recombinase polymerase amplification), HDA (helicase-dependent amplification), and PSR (polymerase spiral reaction), among others.

Similarly, a variety of protein detection methods have been developed following the same principles of portability and simplicity. These include lateral flow assays and advanced immunoassays, integrated with lab-on-a-chip devices, such as biosensors and microfluidic platforms.

These nucleic acid and protein detection techniques are increasingly being explored for point-of-care diagnostics and field-deployable molecular testing due to their simplicity and minimal equipment requirements.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, we welcome the submission of review articles and original research papers focusing on novel molecular diagnostic techniques for detecting DNA, RNA, or proteins of infectious agents responsible for tropical diseases, as well as their potential applications.

Dr. Everardo González-González
Dr. Elda Ariadna Flores-Contreras
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• tropical diseases
• infectious agents
• early detection
• molecular diagnostics
• PCR
• isothermal amplification
• POC
• loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)
• recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)
• helicase-dependent amplification (HDA)
• lateral flow assay (LFA)