Call for papers - Genomic surveillance of AMR pathogens

Guest Editors

Mabel Aworh, DVM, MPH, PhD, Fayetteville State University, USA
Opeyemi Lawal, PhD, University of Windsor, Canada

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 21 July 2026

BMC Medical Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on to our Collection on Genomic surveillance of AMR pathogens.

This Collection aims to highlight research on the genomic surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, with an emphasis on their evolution, genomic characteristics, and surveillance techniques.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Mabel Aworh, DVM, MPH, PhD, Fayetteville State University, USA

Dr Mabel Aworh serves as Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Fayetteville State University, North Carolina, USA. Her background includes a postdoctoral fellowship at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and prior leadership as Deputy Director and Epidemiologist at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. With expertise spanning field epidemiology, public health, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, Dr Aworh has contributed to Nigeria’s AMR National Action Plan and represented the country at Codex Committee meetings. Academic credentials include a DVM from the University of Ibadan, an MPH, and a PhD in Veterinary Public Health from Ahmadu Bello University, along with fellowship in the College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on One Health, food safety, and AMR mitigation.

Opeyemi Lawal, PhD, University of Windsor, Canada

Dr Opeyemi U. Lawal is Assistant Professor in the School of the Environment and the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor, Canada. He directs the Enviphomics Lab, integrating environmental microbiology, genomics, and systems ecology to study microbial responses to stressors and their role in pathogen evolution and antimicrobial resistance. Work spans agri-environmental and food systems, applying multi-omics and predictive modeling to bridge ecological and public health perspectives. Dr Lawal also co-leads global genomics and bioinformatics training programs that strengthen One Health surveillance and research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. His research aims to advance sustainable solutions for food safety and AMR reduction worldwide.

About the Collection

BMC Medical Genomics is calling for submissions to our Collection on Genomic surveillance of AMR pathogens.

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens are microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, that have developed or acquired genetic mutations or resistance mechanisms rendering them less susceptible or entirely unresponsive to antimicrobial agents. This resistance complicates treatment, promotes the persistence and spread of infectious diseases, and its rise poses a significant threat to global health by undermining the effectiveness of standard antimicrobial therapies.

Genomic surveillance has become a key strategy in combating AMR, enabling researchers to uncover resistance mechanisms, trace the evolution and transmission of resistant strains, and monitor shifts in resistance patterns over time. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics have further strengthened these efforts, allowing for comprehensive genomic analyses and real-time surveillance that support rapid outbreak responses and targeted interventions.

Genomic surveillance of AMR offers valuable insights that inform clinical decision-making, optimize antimicrobial use, and guide public health policy. As our understanding of AMR deepens through genomic research, new opportunities emerge for the development of targeted therapeutics and preventive strategies. These advances are key to building a more resilient healthcare system capable of responding to the growing threat of AMR.

This Collection aims to highlight research that employs genomic methods for identification and monitoring AMR pathogens in clinical settings.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. 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 "Genomic surveillance of AMR pathogens" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.