Bridging climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and zoonotic disease

Emerging infectious diseases, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the increasing frequency of zoonotic spillover events underscore the critical need for integrated health strategies. Over 60% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin, often linked to environmental disruptions, intensified agriculture, and globalized trade. The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, advocating for collaborative efforts across disciplines to address these complex challenges. Climate change further exacerbates these issues by altering disease vector distributions and stressing ecosystems, thereby facilitating pathogen emergence and transmission. Additionally, the misuse of antimicrobials in both human medicine and animal husbandry accelerates the development of AMR, threatening the efficacy of current treatments. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and leveraging advancements in surveillance, diagnostics, and policy, the One Health framework aims to enhance our capacity to predict, prevent, and respond to these multifaceted health threats.

This Research Topic aims to address the growing threat of emerging infectious diseases, zoonoses, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the lens of the One Health approach, which recognizes the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Increased human encroachment on natural habitats, climate change, and the intensification of livestock production have significantly increased the opportunities for cross-species pathogen transmission. These same factors contribute to the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in both human and veterinary medicine, accelerating the development of AMR.
One Health provides a collaborative, multisectoral framework to understand and manage these complex, interconnected challenges. Interdisciplinary strategies—spanning epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary medicine, and environmental sciences—are essential to build effective prevention and control measures.
Recent advances in molecular diagnostics, metagenomics, and digital surveillance offer promising tools to enhance early detection of zoonotic pathogens and monitor AMR trends. Furthermore, improvements in vaccine development and infection prevention in livestock can reduce antimicrobial use at the source.
By promoting integrated research and cross-sector collaboration, this collection aims to support evidence-based policies and innovations that prevent disease emergence, limit AMR, and strengthen global health resilience.

This Research Topic invites original research, reviews, and perspective articles that apply a One Health approach to tackle the interconnected challenges of emerging infectious diseases, zoonoses, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We welcome contributions that explore the impact of climate change, habitat disruption, and food production systems on pathogen spillover and AMR dynamics. Relevant themes include:
• Surveillance and early detection of zoonotic and emerging pathogens
• Mechanisms and drivers of AMR in human, animal, and environmental settings
• Innovations in diagnostics, vaccines, and infection control in livestock
• Risk assessment and biosecurity strategies along the food chain
• Integrated epidemiological and molecular approaches to disease prevention
• Policy frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration in One Health systems
Submissions may include original research, systematic reviews, mini-reviews, case studies, and conceptual or methodological advances that contribute to sustainable, evidence-based solutions for global health resilience.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Enviromental contamination, Foodboarn pathogen, Antimicrobial resistance, Human-Animal-Environment Interface, Environmental Health, Vectoboarn disease

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.