Special Issues
International Journal of Molecular Sciences runs special issues to create collections of papers on specific topics. The aim is to build a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors who are experts in the subject and oversee the editorial process for papers. Papers published in a Special Issue will be collected together on a dedicated page of the journal website. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.
Hereditary Breast Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Susceptibility Pathways
submission deadline 10 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Structure Optimization of Nanovectors and Self-Assembled Nanoparticles for Smart Drug Delivery
submission deadline 10 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Science)
Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: Oligodendrocytes; Oligodendrocyte lineage cells; Oligodendrocyte precursor cells; Glia; Neurovascular unit; Cell–cell interaction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Neurobiology)
Advances and Perspectives in Epigenetics and Autoimmune Diseases
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of CRISPR-Directed Gene Repair
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
Challenges in Antigen Identification—HLA Peptides and TCR Receptors
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: Antigen presentation; HLA/MHC peptides; Precision medicine; Mass spectrometry; TCR diversity; Neoantigens; Peptide vaccines; Autoimmunity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Molecular Mechanisms of Astrocytic Activation
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: astrocyte; glial scar; brain disorders; bioactive substances; signal transduction; transcription factors; neuroprotection; nerve repair
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Epigenetic Bioengineering
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: Epigenetics; Bioengineering; Chromatin regulation; Nuclear organization and dynamics; Writing epigenetic modifications; Sensing epigenetic modifications; Single cell epigenetics; Emerging technologies; Epigenetics in human health & disease
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
RNPs (Ribonucleoproteins) in Human Physiology and Disease Processes
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: RNA-binding protein; RNA localization; noncoding RNA; mRNA decay; mRNA translation; splicing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Neuroprotective Effect of Glutathione
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Neurobiology)
Protein Disorder and Phase Separation in Transcription
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: Transcription factors; Transcriptional regulation; Mediator complex; Protein–protein interaction; Intrinsically disordered protein; Intrinsically disordered region; Liquid–liquid phase separation; Phase transition; Post-transcriptional modification; Membraneless organelles; Molecular crowding
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Retinal Degeneration: Molecular Mechanism, Pathogenesis and Treatment
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: retinitis pigmentosa; Leber Congenital Amaurosis; Stargardt disease; photoreceptor; mutant protein; cell death; therapy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Biochemistry)
Physiological and Pathological Aspects of Unfolded Protein Response
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: human diseases; protein folding machinery; unfolded protein response; ER associated degradation; ER-to-lysosome-associated degradation; toxic gain-of-function; pathogenic pathways; innovative therapeutic strategies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
Next Generation Sequencing Approaches and Variant Interpretation in Cancer
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: Cancer biomarker; Cancer predisposition; Clinical trial; Computational biology/methods; Copy number variation; Databases, genetic; DNA repair; Drug resistance; Epigenomics; Fusion transcript; Genome instability; Germline mutation in cancer; Methylation; MicroRNA; Molecular diagnostics; Molecular signature; Next-generation sequencing; Noncoding RNA and DNA; Personalized medicine; Predictive biomarkers; Prognosis; Signaling pathway; Somatic mutation in cancer; Splicing variants; Targeted therapy; Theranostics; Therapeutic targets; Treatment response; Variant of unknown significance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Molecular Structure and Mechanisms of Neurotoxicity of Amyloid Prefibrillar Oligomers
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Mitochondrial Transfer in Various Conditions
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 3 articles
Keywords: Mitochondrial transfer; Mitochondrial replacement; Heteroplasmy; Respirometry; OXPHOS and glycolysis; Tunneling nanotube; Exome; Mitochondrial DNA; Reactive oxygen species; NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains containing protein 3 (NALP3); Mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS); Nuclear and mitochondrial interactions; Reversion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
Old and New Players in Inflammatory Disorders as Tools for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 4 articles
Keywords: Immunomodulatory effectors; Peripheral inflammation molecular profiles; Signal transduction; Oxidative stress-related inflammation; Chronic inflammation-associated oncogenic players; Gut microbiota–immunity axis; Anti-inflammatory agents; Promising biomarkers in inflammation-related diseases
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Dysfunction in Neurovascular Unit, Neuroinflammation, and the Neurodegenerative Diseases
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
Keywords: Dysfunction of the Neurovascular Unit; Peripheral blood factors; Neuroinflammation; Neurodegenerative Disease
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
A Disintegrin and Metalloproteases (ADAMs): Activation, Regulation and Mechanisms of Catalysis
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 11 articles
Keywords: ectodomain shedding; substrates; catalytic mechanisms; regulation; immunity; inflammation; tumorigenesis; therapeutic targeting
(This special issue belongs to the Section Biochemistry)
Neuroregenerative and Neuroprotective Strategies Based on Smart Nanomaterials
submission deadline 15 Mar 2021
| 2 articles
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Neurobiology)
Biomechanics of Cancer Progression: From Single-Molecule Mechanics to Mechanomedicine
submission deadline 19 Mar 2021
Keywords: cell mechanics; tissue rheology; mechanobiology; mechanosensing; mechanomarkers; mechanomedicine; biomechanics of cancer; mechanically driven cancer progression
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Amniotic Fluid and Placental Membranes as Sources of Stem Cells: Progress and Challenges
submission deadline 19 Mar 2021
| 10 articles
Keywords: Amniotic fluid stem cells; Amniotic epithelial stem cells; Placental stem cells; Regenerative therapy; Immunomodulation; Secretome; Exosomes; Degenerative diseases; Inflammatory diseases
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Bioactive Molecules from Food or Other Natural Sources against Cancer
submission deadline 20 Mar 2021
| 2 articles
Keywords: cancer; nutraceuticals; food supplements; functional foods; fortified foods; natural bioactive molecules; natural products; tumor; angiogenesis; metastasis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)
From Affinity to Proximity to Interaction: Mass Spectrometry Methods to Study Biomolecular Complexes
submission deadline 20 Mar 2021
Keywords: pnon-covalent interactions; protein/protein complexes; affinity purification mass spectrometry; interactome; proximity labeling; complexome profiling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Understanding TDP-43-Mediated Mechanisms in Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
submission deadline 20 Mar 2021
Keywords: TDP-43; disease mechanisms; Frontotemporal dementia; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; protein–protein interactions; cellular functions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Neurobiology)
The Response to Drugs and Mechanisms of Resistance to Treatment in Severe Asthma
submission deadline 20 Mar 2021
Keywords: severe asthma; precision medicine; biologic drug; mechanism of action; asthma treatment; asthma control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
Diabetic Liver Disease
submission deadline 20 Mar 2021
| 10 articles
Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Type 2 diabetes; Hepatic fibrosis; Liver cirrhosis; PNPLA3
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Oxidative Stress in Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases: Basic and Translational Aspects
submission deadline 21 Mar 2021
| 9 articles
Keywords: antioxidants; radical species; nutraceutics; metabolic syndrome; endocrine glands; hormone metabolism; inflammation in endocrine disorders
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism)
Glycoprotein Structural Biology and Interaction
submission deadline 24 Mar 2021
Keywords: structural biology; glycobiology; protein crystallography; NMR analysis; cryo electron microscopy; molecular dynamic simulation; glycan; glycoprotein; protein–glycan interaction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)
Pharmacology of Chronic Pain Transmission and Its Modulation
submission deadline 25 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: chronic pain; ion channels; peripheral nervous system; central nervous system; animal models; primary sensory neurons; non-neuronal cells; inflammatory cells
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
Molecular Research on Neurological Visual Diseases
submission deadline 25 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: Retina/optic nerve differentiation; optic chiasm formation; axon pathfinding; ocular pathologies; neurological visual disorders
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Neurobiology)
Hormones and Animal-Derived Compounds of Plants
submission deadline 25 Mar 2021
Keywords: abiotic stress; androgens; biotic stress; corticosteroids; ecdysteroids; estrogens; plant adaptation; plant growth and development; phytohormones; progesterone
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)
Immune Response to Cancer: From Tumor Onset to Therapeutic Approach
submission deadline 26 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: tumor immunology; tumor microenvironment; cancer immuno-editing; cancer-related inflammation; immunotherapy; cancer imaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Plant Responses and Tolerance to Temperature Changes
submission deadline 28 Mar 2021
| 6 articles
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)
Molecular Advances in Hypertension and Blood
submission deadline 28 Mar 2021
| 2 articles
Keywords: arterial hypertension; microvesicles; endothelial dysfunction; platelets; thrombotic microangiopathy; complement; hematopoietic cell transplantation; cardiovascular risk
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Making Bioactive Peptides Druggable – Challenges and Prospects
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: peptide druggability; peptide pharmacokinetics; clinical translation of peptides; peptide analogs; peptidomimetics; peptide nanoencapsulation approaches; cyclic peptides; stapled peptides
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
Advances in Plant Cell Imaging
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
| 4 articles
Keywords: Biosensors; fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; fluorescence lifetime imaging; fluorescence recovery after photobleaching; fluorescence resonance energy transfer; fluorescent protein tags; light sheet microscopy; microfluidics; single molecule localization microscopy; single particle tracking; structured illumination microscopy; subcellular imaging; superresolution microscopy; tissue clearing; two-photon microscopy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)
Health Benefits of Resveratrol 2.0
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
| 7 articles
Keywords: Resveratrol supplementation; Resveratrol metabolites; Sirtuins; Aging; Epigenetic; Benefits in chronic disease; Treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)
Role of Neuronal Guidance Cues in Inflammation
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
Neuroinflammatory Processes in Organ Homeostasis and Disease
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
Keywords: immunity; microglia; autonomic nervous system; metabolism; cardiovascular system; pathology; neuropeptides; inflammation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Immune Responses in Wound Healing and Tissue Reconstruction
submission deadline 30 Mar 2021
| 7 articles
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)
Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Mechanisms and Molecular Signatures 2.0
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
| 3 articles
Keywords: multiple chemical sensitivity; fibromyalgia; electromagnetic hypersensitivity; toxicant-induced loss of tolerance; chronic fatigue syndrome; total allergy syndrome; chronic pain disorder; circulating biomarkers; genetic susceptibility factors; changes in DNA methylation status; miRNA; lncRNA; transcriptomics; proteomics; neuroimaging biomarkers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
The Role of Post-Translational Modifications in Chromatin and Cancer
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: DNA Replication, Repair and Transcription; Post-translational modifications; Chromatin; Acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation; Ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modifiers; Histone modifications; Chromatin; Cancer; Targeted cancer therapy; Epigenetics and cancer
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)
Genetics of Behaviour and Stress
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: QTL; QTN; GWAS; Stress; Anxiety; Plasticity; Behavioural syndromes; Genetic Architecture; Predictability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
The Key Role of Molecular Diagnostics in Predictive, Preventive and Personalised (3P) Medicine
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
| 1 articles
Keywords: Predictive Preventive Personalised Medicine (PPPM / 3PM); Theoretical aspects in predictive medicine; Suboptimal health; Stress; Vasospasm; Stroke; Cancer; Metastatic disease; Diabetes; Cardiovascular disease; Molecular mechanisms; Liquid biopsy; Multiomics; Cell-free nucleid acids; Mictobiome; Biomarker patterns; Computation analysis; Disease modelling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Hepatic Hematopoiesis and Stem/Progenitor Cells in Developing Human Liver
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: Stem/Progenitor Cells; Liver Niches; Hepatoblast; Hepatocytic lineage; Cholangiocytic lineage; Hematopoiesis; Erythroid lineage; Myeloid lineage; Megakaryocytic lineage; Liver disease; Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Liver
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Molecular Basis of Intestinal Epithelial Stem Cell Specification, Maintenance and Differentiation
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: intestinal stem cell; microenvironment; functional heterogeneity; inflammation; microbiota; metabolism; cancer; signalling; epigenetics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Diagnosis of Cancer
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: Extracellular vesicles; exosomes; early diagnosis; disease monitoring; cell-cell communication; liquid biopsy; oncology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Function and Mechanisms of JNK Pathway
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); cell death; inflammation; survival; insulin resistance; brain development; gene transcription; tumorigenesis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
Tumor Secretome in Translational Oncology
submission deadline 31 Mar 2021
Keywords: tumor microenvironment; cell subpopulations; lipid signaling; tumor secretome; metabolic targeting; therapy-induced stress; SASP
(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)