Call for papers: The One health landscape in the face of antimicrobial resistance

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a complex and critical issue, recognized as one of the most urgent global challenges requiring immediate attention. The use of antibiotics imposes selective pressure on both pathogens and commensal microorganisms, leading to the development of resistant strains. For years, farms, intensive breeding systems, and the increasing spread of foodborne diseases have been identified as primary contributors to this global problem. The 'One Health' concept, which encompasses human, animal (whether linked to production chains, human companionship or wildlife), and environmental health, underscores the interconnection among these domains in a rapidly changing world. Collaborative efforts between human and veterinary medicine are essential to controlling antimicrobial resistance, with the One Health approach playing a vital role in addressing this issue.

Whole genome sequencing, metagenomic approaches, and molecular tools offer profound insights into the dynamics of multidrug-resistant bacteria, unveiling new strategies for effective regulation and intervention in this ongoing battle.

This special issue invites the submission of manuscripts that advance our understanding of antimicrobial resistance through a harmonized One Health approach. We particularly welcome studies that describe resistance markers in zoonotic infections (broadly defined to include anthropozoonotic infections), or surveillance studies involving animal samples, the food production chain, and environmental ecosystems as well as studies showing the circulation of resistance determinants across domains.

Guest editors:

Rafael Vignoli
Unidad Académica de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay

José A. Di Conza
Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

Special issue information:

We invite submissions that explore the following areas:

• Zoonotic and anthropozoonotic infections: Studies identifying resistance markers in pathogens that move between animals and humans, particularly in relation to food production, companion animals or wildlife.

• Surveillance of AMR: Research focused on tracking resistance patterns in animals, food production chain, agricultural systems, and environmental ecosystems, particularly through innovative monitoring systems.

• One Health frameworks: Articles that highlight collaborative efforts across human, animal, and environmental health to address AMR through regulatory strategies, policy development, or interdisciplinary research.

• Genomic and metagenomic approaches: Manuscripts utilizing whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics, or molecular tools to map the spread of resistance determinants and identify novel resistance genes across ecosystems.

• Environmental reservoirs of resistance: Studies examining soil, water, and other environmental factors as reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant organisms and genes.

Novel Methodologies and Applications:

This special issue also seeks papers that introduce or apply advanced methodologies, such as:

• Genomic epidemiology to trace the movement of resistant strains across geographic and ecological boundaries.

• Metagenomic approaches for monitoring resistance in complex environments.

• Bioinformatics tools for resistance gene detection.

By encouraging cross-sector collaboration, we hope to foster a more holistic understanding of AMR, helping to pave the way for new preventive strategies and policies.

Manuscript submission information:

Submission deadline: April 15, 2025

You are invited to submit your manuscript at any time before the submission deadline. For any inquiries about the appropriateness of contribution topics, please contact Dr. Rafael Vignoli via elrafavignoli@gmail.com.

The special issue will accept only original articles.

The journal’s submission platform (Editorial Manager®) is now available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue. Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of “The One health landscape in the face of antimicrobial resistance” when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here.

All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.

Why publish in this Special Issue?

• Special Issue articles are published together on ScienceDirect, making it incredibly easy for other researchers to discover your work.
• Special content articles are downloaded on ScienceDirect twice as often within the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues.
• Special content articles attract 20% more citations in the first 24 months than articles published in regular issues.
• All articles in this special issue will be reviewed by no fewer than two independent experts to ensure the quality, originality and novelty of the work published.

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