ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Molecular Insights into Zoonotic Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 2945

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases continue to ravage human lives, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is believed to have been in existence for several thousand years. TB continues to cause 2 million deaths every year and 10 million new cases annually worldwide.

Zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) is a form of TB in people caused by Mycobacterium bovis, which belongs to the M. tb complex. It often affects sites other than the lungs (extrapulmonary), but in many cases, it is clinically indistinguishable from TB caused by M. tb. Within animal populations, M. bovis is the causative agent of bovine TB. It mainly affects cattle, which are the most important animal reservoir, and can become established in wildlife. The disease results in important economic losses and trade barriers with a major impact on the livelihoods of poor and marginalized communities.

M. marinum, an atypical mycobacterium and a causative agent of fish tank granuloma, is transmitted from fish to humans. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in the neglect of several infectious diseases including TB and malaria. As the world tries to emerge from the pandemic, it is important to ensure that the entire world has access to health care to prevent future pandemics.

This Special Issue is dedicated to molecular-level research on host-pathogen interactions, pathogenesis, and the mechanisms of acute and chronic infections, with a focus on zoonotic diseases. We encourage submissions that explore the molecular aspects of human-animal interactions and the transmission of bacteria and viruses from animals to humans.

We welcome articles on the most recent advances in the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds and repurposed drugs that can potentially be utilized against infectious agents.We also invite submissions on preclinical and clinical research findings obtained from mechanistic studies. Since IJMS is a journal of molecular science, purely clinical studies and epidemiology will not suitable. However, clinical or pure model submissions with biomolecular experiments are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • mycobacterial diseases
  • bubonic and pneumonic plague
  • Q fever
  • cat scratch disease
  • Mediterranean fever
  • HIV
  • malaria
  • ADIS
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • adjunctive therapy
  • immune-enhancing agents
  • antimycobacterial compounds
  • host-directed therapies
  • pathogenesis
  • modulation of host immune responses

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 (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 626 KiB  
Article
Torque teno virus (TTV) Infection in Patients with Encephalitis
by Henryk Jurasz, Iwona Bukowska-Ośko, Małgorzata Rydzanicz, Marta Popiel, Tomasz Dzieciątkowski, Karolina Bakuła-Grządka, Marcin Paciorek, Michał Makowiecki, Andrzej Horban, Tomasz Laskus, Marek Radkowski and Karol Perlejewski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11177; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011177 - 17 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1161
Abstract
Torque teno virus (TTV) is a ssDNA orphan virus belonging to the Anelloviridae family, but some recent studies suggested its possible involvement in central nervous system (CNS) pathology. We analyzed serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) from 109 patients with encephalitis for TTV [...] Read more.
Torque teno virus (TTV) is a ssDNA orphan virus belonging to the Anelloviridae family, but some recent studies suggested its possible involvement in central nervous system (CNS) pathology. We analyzed serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) from 109 patients with encephalitis for TTV infection using serological and molecular testing, virus quantitative measurement, and next-generation sequencing-based (NGS) phylogenetic analysis. TTV noncoding region (UTR) and/or open reading frame 1 (ORF-1) sequences were detected in serum of 86 (79%) patients and in nine (8%) patients in CSF. Five of the latter patients were coinfected with various entero- and herpesviruses. Anti-TTV-IgG were detected in 80 (73.4%) sera and in two (1.8%) CSF samples, while anti-TTV-IgM were present in three (2.8%) sera and in none of the CSFs. Phylogenic analysis of CSF-derived TTV ORF-1 sequences revealed the presence of three unique variants in one patient. TTV was quantified in five CSF-serum pairs: in two patients viral loads were similar, and in three serum TTV loads were approximately one log higher. Our results suggest at least an occasional replication of TTV in CNS. However, whether TTV could be the cause of encephalitis requires further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Zoonotic Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

9 pages, 405 KiB  
Review
How Does a Porcine Herpesvirus, PCMV/PRV, Induce a Xenozoonosis
by Joachim Denner
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3542; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083542 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 177
Abstract
Porcine cytomegalovirus/porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV), a porcine herpesvirus, has been shown to significantly reduce the survival time of porcine xenotransplants in non-human primates. The virus was detected in all the examined organs of baboons transplanted with PCMV/PRV-positive organs and it was also transmitted to [...] Read more.
Porcine cytomegalovirus/porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV), a porcine herpesvirus, has been shown to significantly reduce the survival time of porcine xenotransplants in non-human primates. The virus was detected in all the examined organs of baboons transplanted with PCMV/PRV-positive organs and it was also transmitted to the first human recipient of a pig heart, contributing to the patient’s death. PCMV/PRV induces consumptive coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia in xenotransplant recipients. Initial studies in baboons revealed that the virus triggered increased release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), along with elevated levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) complexes. Since there is no evidence that PCMV/PRV infects primate cells, including human cells, the virus appears to directly interact with immune and endothelial cells, disrupting cytokine signaling and coagulation pathways. The highest viral load was detected in the explanted pig heart, suggesting active replication at this site. Additionally, cells expressing PCMV/PRV proteins were identified in all the examined baboon organs, where pig cells were also found. Since PCMV/PRV affects only xenotransplant recipients and not healthy humans, this condition should be classified as a xenozoonosis. Interestingly, antibodies against human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) cross-react with PCMV/PRV and may contribute to protection against infection in humans. Further research is needed to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this xenozoonotic disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Zoonotic Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 930 KiB  
Review
The Complex Interactions Between HIV-1 and Human Host Cell Genome: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Practice
by Manlio Tolomeo, Francesco Tolomeo and Antonio Cascio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3184; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073184 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1241
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved the prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Although ART can suppress plasma viremia below detectable levels, it cannot eradicate the HIV-1 DNA (provirus) integrated into the host cell genome. This integration often results in [...] Read more.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved the prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Although ART can suppress plasma viremia below detectable levels, it cannot eradicate the HIV-1 DNA (provirus) integrated into the host cell genome. This integration often results in unrepaired DNA damage due to the HIV-1-induced inhibition of DNA repair pathways. Furthermore, HIV-1 infection causes telomere attrition in host chromosomes, a critical factor contributing to CD4+ T cell senescence and apoptosis. HIV-1 proteins can induce DNA damage, block DNA replication, and activate DNA damage responses across various organs. In this review, we explore multiple aspects of the intricate interactions between HIV-1 and the host genome involved in CD4+ T cell depletion, inflammaging, the clonal expansion of infected cells in long-term-treated patients, and viral latency. We discuss the molecular mechanisms of DNA damage that contribute to comorbidities in HIV-1-infected individuals and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the integrated HIV-1 provirus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Zoonotic Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop