Ecology and Evolution of Viral Pathogens: From Wildlife to Human Infections

Dear Colleagues,

Zoonotic spillover is characterized by the transfer of pathogens between animal species and from them to humans. Most human infectious diseases originate from non-human animals, and environmental disturbances related to anthropogenic actions are the driving forces behind the emergence of new human pathogens in contemporary times. Several examples, from the emergence of the Nipah and Hendra viruses in the 1990s, globalization of several arboviruses, significant increase in the incidence of hepatitis E cases, outbreaks of ebolavirus and Marburgvirus on the African continent, emergence of Sarbecoviruses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, among other emerging and re-emerging viral zoonoses, including the recent globalization of highly pathogenic Influenza viruses, are unequivocal evidence of the effect of local land occupation disorders, environmental imbalances that can disrupt the stability between pathogens and hosts, which associated with changes in global dynamics which can lead to the generation of new challenges in public health. In a synthetic view of the sequence of events involved in the introduction of new pathogens into domestic animals and humans from wild species and the natural environment, surveillance systems at various levels, covering everything from the presence of viruses in material collected from wild animals to Samples collected from humans, through analysis of environmental matrices, can be an important tool in preventing and mitigating the emergence or re-emergence of viral zoonoses.

In this context, Pathogens will launch a Special Edition dedicated to “Ecology and Evolution of Viral Pathogens: From Wildlife to Human Infections”. We want this edition to be able to house a robust set of current scientific production on topics ranging from the impact on habitats and their effects on wild animal populations that could contribute to the transfer of new pathogens to humans and other animals, to initiatives aimed at from monitoring viruses with zoonotic potential, to possible platforms for generating new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines, fundamental tools for tackling emerging and re-emerging pathogens that we will encounter as challenges over the coming years.

Both original research and review articles on this topic are welcome. Potential topics include:

• Studies that bring together the nuances of disruption in the homeostasis of natural systems and evident disturbances in the response capacity of wildlife populations to emerging viruses;
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies aiming monitor and discover viral agents with zoonotic potential in wild fauna;
• Specific or broader initiatives to compose studies on the implementation of cost-effective tools for surveillance, diagnosis, therapy and vaccine platforms for viruses with zoonotic potential in the context of pandemic preparedness.

Dr. Fernando Spilki
Guest Editor

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• emerging viruses
• pandemic preparedness
• one-health
• surveillance
• zoonotic viruses