Molecular mechanisms and drivers of pathogen emergence

Abstract

Pathogen emergence (PE) is a complex phenomenon with major public health implications. Over the past decades, numerous underlying mechanisms facilitating the emergence of pathogenic bacteria have been elucidated. In this review, we highlight the diverse molecular and environmental drivers associated with PE, with an emphasis on the interplay of canonical gene transfer mechanisms and the increasingly appreciated role of genetic variations, providing a more coherent picture of this process. Given the interactive and multifactorial nature of PE, we contend that the development of approaches that embrace the integration of these factors is indispensable in order to truly comprehend this complex phenomenon and develop strategies to mitigate this threat.

Keywords: genomic background; horizontal gene transfer; pathoadaptive mutations; pathogen emergence; virulence-adaptive polymorphisms.