Genomic Epidemiology and One Health Perspectives on Emerging Tropical Pathogens

Emerging tropical pathogens remain a major global health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where ecological complexity, climate variability and close interactions among humans, animals and the environment create opportunities for disease emergence and re-emergence. Understanding these drivers is essential for effective prevention, detection and control.

Advances in genomic and molecular technologies, from whole-genome sequencing to targeted assays such as qPCR or Sanger sequencing, are transforming our ability to characterize pathogens and trace their transmission. Yet, the pathways of emergence often extend beyond human health alone. A One Health framework, which integrates human, animal and environmental perspectives, provides a powerful lens for identifying the factors that shape pathogen evolution and spread.

This Research Topic welcomes studies that apply genomic epidemiology and molecular tools, combined with One Health approaches, to investigate emerging tropical pathogens. We particularly encourage submissions from settings with diverse resource capacities, including those using scalable or field-adaptable methods. The collections sub-themes include (but are not limited to):
• Genomic or molecular characterization of emerging or re-emerging tropical pathogens;
• Integrated human–animal–environment surveillance and cross-species transmission studies;
• Investigations focusing on a single One Health component (human, animal, or environment) that offer significant insights into pathogen emergence or transmission;
• Studies on emerging tropical infections beyond the WHO-listed Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are encouraged;
• Application of affordable or portable molecular tools for outbreak detection;
• Environmental and ecological factors influencing pathogen emergence;
• Strategies for capacity building and implementation of One Health surveillance systems.

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
• FAIR² Data
• ... 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
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• 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: Genomic Epidemiology, One Health, Emerging Tropical Pathogens, Molecular Surveillance, Cross-species Transmission, Ecological Drivers

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.