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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Advances in Human Infections and Public Health
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Advances in Human Infections and Public Health

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 4002

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
Interests: infectious diseases; outbreaks; One Health; climate and environmental changes; wastewater monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

Our understanding of human infections constitutes an important part of public health preparedness, particularly because many infections are emerging or re-emerging in various locations across the world. These infections can cause a significant public health burden, not only in terms of direct morbidity and mortality but also through the added pressure that they place on socio-economic and healthcare systems. As such, it is important to continuously develop our understanding of human infections and consider how this higher understanding can best be applied for public health purposes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a collection of articles that showcase advances in how we understand human infections and the way in which public health approaches for prevention and control can be accommodated to incorporate these advances. As the Guest Editor of this Special Issue, “Advances in Human Infections and Public Health”, I invite you to submit research articles, review articles, and short communications related to this topic.

Dr. Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human infections
  • public health
  • advances
  • preparedness
  • control
  • prevention

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2813 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Evidence for Upper Respiratory Infections as a Potential Risk Factor for Meniere’s Disease: A Korean National Health Sample Cohort Study
by Mi Jung Kwon, Ho Suk Kang, Joo-Hee Kim, Ji Hee Kim, Woo Jin Bang, Dae Myoung Yoo, Na-Eun Lee, Kyeong Min Han, Nan Young Kim, Hyo Geun Choi, Min-Jeong Kim and Eun Soo Kim
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102047 - 10 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1523
Abstract
Meniere’s disease (MD) is a chronic inner ear disorder characterized by tinnitus, ear fullness, episodic vertigo, and fluctuating hearing loss, which significantly impacts quality of life and poses management challenges. Recent evidence suggests that upper respiratory infections (URIs) may contribute to MD’s onset. [...] Read more.
Meniere’s disease (MD) is a chronic inner ear disorder characterized by tinnitus, ear fullness, episodic vertigo, and fluctuating hearing loss, which significantly impacts quality of life and poses management challenges. Recent evidence suggests that upper respiratory infections (URIs) may contribute to MD’s onset. This study examines the potential link between URIs and MD using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (2002–2019). We analyzed 19,721 individuals with MD and 78,884 matched controls, adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities using propensity score matching. Our results showed that individuals with a URI within one year prior to the index date exhibited a 2.01-fold greater likelihood of developing MD (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.91–2.11, p < 0.001), while those with URIs within two years demonstrated a 1.54-fold higher probability (95% CI = 1.50–1.59, p < 0.001). Furthermore, we found that even remote URIs occurring up to two years before the index date significantly increased the risk of developing MD, underscoring the need for long-term patient follow-up. Overall, our study suggests that individuals with a history of URI may have an elevated risk of developing MD over multiple time frames, regardless of demographic or health profiles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Human Infections and Public Health)
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12 pages, 4696 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Oklahoma Wastewater through Allele-Specific RT-qPCR
by Kristen Shelton, Gargi N. Deshpande, Gilson J. Sanchez, Jason R. Vogel, A. Caitlin Miller, Gabriel Florea, Erin R. Jeffries, Kara B. De Leόn, Bradley Stevenson and Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 2001; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102001 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1083
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance was used to monitor community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As new genetic variants emerged, the need for timely identification of these variants in wastewater became an important focus. In response to increased reports of Omicron transmission across the [...] Read more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance was used to monitor community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As new genetic variants emerged, the need for timely identification of these variants in wastewater became an important focus. In response to increased reports of Omicron transmission across the United States, the Oklahoma Wastewater Surveillance team utilized allele-specific RT-qPCR assays to detect and differentiate variants, such as Omicron, from other variants found in wastewater in Oklahoma. The PCR assays showed presence of the Omicron variant in Oklahoma on average two weeks before official reports, which was confirmed through genomic sequencing of selected wastewater samples. Through continued surveillance from November 2021 to January 2022, we also demonstrated the transition from prevalence of the Delta variant to prevalence of the Omicron variant in local communities. We further assessed how this transition correlated with certain demographic factors characterizing each community. Our results highlight RT-qPCR assays as a rapid, simple, and cost-effective method for monitoring the community spread of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in wastewater. Additionally, they demonstrate that specific demographic factors such as ethnic composition and household income can correlate with the timing of SARS-CoV-2 variant introduction and spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Human Infections and Public Health)
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Review

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24 pages, 2957 KiB  
Review
Nipah Virus: A Zoonotic Threat Re-Emerging in the Wake of Global Public Health Challenges
by Francesco Branda, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Marta Giovanetti, Mattia Albanese, Erica Binetti, Massimo Ciccozzi and Fabio Scarpa
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010124 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 862
Abstract
The re-emergence of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala, India, following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy, underscores the persistent threat posed by zoonotic pathogens and highlights the growing global public health challenge. With no vaccine or curative treatment available, and fatality [...] Read more.
The re-emergence of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala, India, following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy, underscores the persistent threat posed by zoonotic pathogens and highlights the growing global public health challenge. With no vaccine or curative treatment available, and fatality rates as high as 94% in past outbreaks, the Nipah virus is a critical concern for health authorities worldwide. Transmitted primarily through contact with fruit bats or consumption of contaminated food, as well as direct human-to-human transmission, NiV remains a highly lethal and unpredictable pathogen. The World Health Organization has classified Nipah as a priority pathogen due to its alarming potential to cause widespread outbreaks and even trigger the next pandemic. Recent outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, occurring with seasonal regularity, have once again exposed the vulnerability of public health systems in containing this virus. This study explores the epidemiology, ecological factors driving transmission, and the public health response to NiV, emphasizing the role of zoonotic spillovers in pandemic preparedness. As the global community grapples with an increasing number of emerging infectious diseases, the Nipah virus stands as a stark reminder of the importance of coordinated surveillance, rapid containment measures, and the urgent development of novel strategies to mitigate the impact of this re-emerging threat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Human Infections and Public Health)
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