JA
jose antonio de fuentes vicente
University of Science and Arts of Chiapas
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico
- Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
- Vector Biology
- Research Topics
- From Genes to Ecosystems: Ecology and Genetics of Diseases Vectors
From Genes to Ecosystems: Ecology and Genetics of Diseases Vectors
Submit your idea
You will be redirected to our submission process.
About this Research Topic
Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 29 December 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 18 April 2026
This Research Topic is currently accepting articles.
Background
Vector-borne disease transmission is the result of complex interactions among vectors, pathogens, hosts, and environmental factors. These processes do not occur in isolation but are influenced by a dynamic network of biological, ecological, and evolutionary relationships. Understanding these interactions requires a multidisciplinary and integrative approach that encompasses multiple scales of analysis, from the molecular, genetic, and genomic study of vectors to the ecology of populations, communities, and landscapes. Factors such as the genetic variability of vectors, their adaptability to different environments, interactions with human and animal hosts, as well as ecological and climatic conditions, play a crucial role in the geographic distribution, abundance, behavior, and vectorial capacity of these species. This special issue will focus on the ecology and genetics of vectors of pathogens responsible for human diseases, with the aim of bringing together research that explores how genetic and ecological factors influence their evolution, local adaptation, and transmission potential.
The principal aim of this collection is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date framework on the genetic, ecological, and immunological diversity of disease vectors, especially insects, addressing the complexity of their biology and their interaction with the pathogens they transmit. The aim is to understand how various factors, including climate change, habitat transformation due to human activities, urbanization, pesticide use, and other environmental factors, influence vector dynamics and the ability of these organisms to adapt, survive, and transmit disease. By integrating genetic, ecological, and immunological perspectives, this issue aims to promote the identification of key mechanisms that regulate susceptibility or resistance to infections, thus contributing to the design of more effective and innovative strategies for epidemiological surveillance, environmental monitoring, and sustainable vector control.
This Research Topic has the potential to become a key reference for researchers, public health professionals, and decision-makers interested in understanding and managing vector-borne diseases. By bringing together studies that address the genetic, ecological, and immune diversity of vectors in distinct environmental and social contexts, we hope to offer a holistic view that facilitates the development of more precise tools for entomological and epidemiological surveillance. Furthermore, the findings presented can contribute to the design of more effective, sustainable, and locally adapted control strategies, including innovative approaches based on genetic manipulation or biological control. This issue also seeks to foster interdisciplinary and regional collaboration, promoting the integration of genomic, ecological, and climatic data to anticipate risks, respond to health emergencies, and generate more informed public policies in the face of the growing challenge of vector-borne diseases. Contributions exploring the following topics are welcome:
• Genetic diversity and evolution of vectors of tropical and emerging diseases;
• Ecological-genetic interactions and their impact on pathogen transmission dynamics;
• Influence of environmental, anthropogenic, or climatic changes on vector ecology and genetics;
• Applications of genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics to understand vector biology;
• Integrated surveillance and control strategies based on ecological and genetic knowledge;
• Immune mechanisms of vectors against pathogens and their role in transmission dynamics.
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
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
- Data Report
- Editorial
- General Commentary
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Keywords: ecology, genetics, vectors, vector-borne diseases, tropical diseases
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.
Topic editors
Topic coordinators
Frequently asked questions
Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.
Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.
The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.
Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.
As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.
A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.
Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.
In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.
Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.
As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.
Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.
Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.
Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor.
A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.
The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.
As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field.
You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.
As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).
If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.
Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.
Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.
As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.
Find out more about our Research Topics
Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.
Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.
In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.
Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the main journal or any other participating journal.
Submit your idea
You will be redirected to our submission process.