Zoonotic Bacteria: Genomic Evolution, Antimicrobial Resistance, Pathogenicity, and Prevention Strategies, Volume II

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This second volume of our Research Topic is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Filippo Giarratana, from the University of Messina, Italy, whose scientific contributions, passion for research, and commitment to veterinary and food safety sciences greatly inspired colleagues and collaborators worldwide. His dedication to advancing knowledge on zoonotic pathogens, food safety, and public health within the One Health framework continues to motivate the scientific community. We are honored to dedicate this volume to his memory and lasting scientific legacy.

Zoonoses refer to diseases or infections naturally transmissible from animals to humans, either through direct contact with animals or through the consumption of food of animal origin. Zoonotic diseases have existed for thousands of years, dating back to the domestication of wild animals by humans for food production, transportation, and other societal benefits. Throughout history, zoonotic bacteria have caused numerous devastating diseases responsible for millions of deaths worldwide, such as plague caused by Yersinia pestis.

Today, despite significant advances in healthcare systems, biosecurity measures, and animal farming management, zoonotic bacteria continue to represent a major global public health challenge, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. In parallel, the extensive use and misuse of antibiotics in veterinary medicine for therapeutic, prophylactic, and growth-promotion purposes have accelerated the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Although the use of several antibiotics in animal production has become restricted in many countries, resistance to critically important antimicrobials—including quinolones, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, and polymyxins—continues to rise worldwide.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms underlying the emergence, evolution, adaptation, and rapid dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic bacteria. Furthermore, intensified research efforts are required to develop sustainable and innovative non-antibiotic strategies capable of mitigating the spread of multidrug-resistant zoonotic pathogens.

The main goal of this Research Topic is to provide an international platform for advancing and consolidating knowledge on the evolution of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic bacteria, as well as on the molecular mechanisms associated with antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and pathogenicity. In addition, this Research Topic aims to stimulate scientific discussion on effective prevention and control strategies to combat the emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant and highly virulent zoonotic bacteria within a One Health perspective.

We enthusiastically welcome researchers to submit their valuable contributions in the form of Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Brief Research Reports, Perspective Articles, Methods, and Opinion Articles.

Potential themes covered by this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:

- Antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and pathogenicity mechanisms of zoonotic bacteria,

- Pathogenicity assessment of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic bacteria,

- Development of accurate typing methods to track the dissemination of zoonotic bacteria,

- Phylogenomic analysis and evolutionary dynamics of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic bacteria,

- Host–pathogen interactions and adaptation mechanisms,

- One Health approaches for surveillance and control of zoonotic pathogens,

- Development of sustainable prevention and intervention strategies to tackle zoonotic bacteria.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... 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
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: virulence, pathogenicity, whole genome sequencing, genomic evolution, genomic epidemiology, vaccine development, preventing strategies, zoonoses

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.