Call for papers - Emerging viral diseases

Guest Editors

Antonio Charlys da Costa, PhD, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Mohamad S. Hakim, MD, PhD, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 22 August 2025

BMC Medical Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on Emerging viral diseases. This Collection aims to gather research that explores the genomic and transcriptomic aspects of viral diseases, including viral evolution, zoonotic transmission, and host susceptibility genes. We invite submissions that investigate the use of next-generation sequencing and single-cell sequencing technologies to unravel the complexities of viral infections and transmission dynamics.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Antonio Charlys da Costa, PhD, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

Dr da Costa began his research career at the São Paulo Blood Centers, focusing on molecular biology and infectious diseases in transfusion medicine. He works with molecular epidemiology studies on HIV-1, HTLV, B19, and human genomics in Brazil, building a strong foundation in various molecular techniques. Dr da Costa received a grant for specialized training at the Blood Systems Research Institute (UCSF), where he gained expertise in viral metagenomics discovery and viral evolution, along with hands-on experience in bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing. He has actively participated in international efforts to combat emerging viral threats, notably during the Zika and Chikungunya epidemics. His role in the UK-Brazil ZIBRA project was pivotal in defining Zika's introduction and spread in Brazil and studying yellow fever transmission dynamics. Currently, Dr da Costa focuses on viral metagenomics and virus discovery, analyzing biological samples to identify pathogens that pose risks to human health. His work addresses urgent public health challenges and enhances our understanding of viral pathogens within transfusion medicine.

Mohamad S. Hakim, MD, PhD, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Mohamad S. Hakim started his medical school at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2003-2007). After two years of clinical internship (2007-2009), he obtained his medical degree in 2009. A strong interest to be a scientist in virological research allow him to obtain his MSc degree in the Research Master Program of Infection and Immunity, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2011-2013). His thesis was focusing on T cell immunity in chronic hepatitis B and C infections. Then, he completed his PhD in virology and immunology at the same institution in 2018, focusing on molecular epidemiology, antiviral development, and innate immunity of viral infections, particularly in hepatitis viruses and rotaviruses. Currently, he is an associate professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. His research interests focus on virus evolution, including SARS-CoV-2 and chikungunya virus.

About the Collection

BMC Medical Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on Emerging viral diseases. Emerging viral diseases pose significant challenges to global public health, with outbreaks of novel viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, and Zika virus highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of viral genomics, host interactions, and transmission dynamics.

Recent advances in this area have led to the rapid identification and characterization of novel viruses, shedding light on their genetic diversity, transmission patterns, and host range.

Furthermore, research has elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying virus-host interactions and the role of genomic variation in viral pathogenesis and immune responses.

This Collection aims to gather research that explores the genomic and transcriptomic aspects of viral diseases, including viral evolution, zoonotic transmission, and host susceptibility genes. We invite submissions that investigate the use of next-generation sequencing and single-cell sequencing technologies to unravel the complexities of viral infections and transmission dynamics.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles, Database, Software, Case Report, Study protocol, Matters Arising and Comment.. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Emerging viral diseases" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.