Application of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Context of Bacterial and Parasitic Infections

Dear Colleagues,

High-throughput or next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a versatile technology, broadly applicable to bacteria, parasites, and animal hosts. High-throughput technology and bioinformatics unravel the complex landscape and dynamics of transcriptomes at an exceptional level of sensitivity and accuracy, with a dual RNA-seq time course analysis of pathogens and hosts. In recent years, NGS has been applied successfully in a wide range of metagenomic projects that have enormously revolutionized our knowledge of the microbial communities living in and on animal and human bodies. In addition, they can provide new insights into disease transmission, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance. The most common application of amplicon sequencing with NGS technology in the microbiome is 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which is usually employed to assess the bacterial general composition. Metagenome shotgun sequencing provides more intricate information on the microbiome, including gene content and its potential functions. The goal of this Special Issue is to understand the interplay among eukaryotic virome, microbiome, parasites, and animal hosts and their consequences for potential protection. Furthermore, the role of non-coding RNAs in pathogenic infections and their potential as targets for novel treatment paradigms will be covered.

Original papers, communications, and review articles that focus on the latest advances of next-generation sequencing in the context of bacterial and parasitic infections are welcome. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Disclosing the diversity, composition, and identity of bacterial communities associated with animal hosts in the context of bacterial or parasitic infections;

-Revealing the diversity, composition, and identity of bacterial communities associated with parasites;

-The application of NGS to create transcriptomes for diverse pathogens and tissues in the context of pathogenic infections;

The application of NGS for tackling emerging bacterial and parasitic diseases;-

-Uncovering disease pathogenesis and drug resistance via next-generation sequencing;

-The application of NGS to monitor the spread of antimicrobial resistance and to detect variants of drug-resistant bacteria.

-Exploring the bacteriophage community in the context of bacterial and parasitic infections.

Prof. Dr. Guillermo Tellez-Isaias
Prof. Dr. Saeed Saeed El-Ashram
Guest Editors

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• High-throughput/next-generation sequencing (NGS)
• bacteria
• parasites
• animal hosts
• eukaryotic virome
• bioinformatics
• pathogens and hosts
• pathogenic infections
• bacterial and parasitic infections
• disease transmission
• virulence
• antimicrobial resistance
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing
• Metagenome shotgun sequencing