反映了對細(xì)菌、真菌、寄生蟲、朊病毒和病毒的全面研究，PLoS病原體發(fā)表了杰出的原始研究和評論，顯著提高了對病原體及其與宿主生物體相互作用的理解。范圍細(xì)菌、真菌、寄生蟲、朊病毒和病毒會導(dǎo)致過多的疾病，這些疾病對醫(yī)療、農(nóng)業(yè)和經(jīng)濟(jì)都有重要影響。此外，微生物的研究繼續(xù)為細(xì)胞和組織功能的分子基礎(chǔ)等基本過程提供新的見解。《公共科學(xué)圖書館病原體》通過發(fā)表優(yōu)秀的原創(chuàng)文章，反映了這些領(lǐng)域的全面研究，這些文章極大地促進(jìn)了對病原體及其與宿主有機(jī)體相互作用的理解。主題包括（但不限于）適應(yīng)性和先天免疫防御以及病原體對策、新出現(xiàn)的病原體、進(jìn)化、基因組學(xué)和基因調(diào)控、模型宿主生物體、病原體細(xì)胞生物學(xué)、發(fā)病機(jī)制、朊病毒、蛋白質(zhì)組學(xué)和信號轉(zhuǎn)導(dǎo)、合理的疫苗設(shè)計、結(jié)構(gòu)生物學(xué)和毒力因子。該雜志不會考慮純粹的描述性研究，例如那些僅識別相關(guān)病原體或一系列相關(guān)病原體的新基因組序列、分離病原體變體或僅基于序列分析或宿主和病原體基因型相關(guān)研究的新菌株或類型的研究。基因組學(xué)研究，包括基于基因組序列分析的功能預(yù)測或推斷，還需要額外的實驗驗證，直接測試預(yù)測/推斷，并得出有關(guān)機(jī)械模型或發(fā)病機(jī)制的新結(jié)論。在編輯批準(zhǔn)之前，基因型表型與現(xiàn)有功能數(shù)據(jù)的關(guān)聯(lián)研究也可以支持潛在功能的推論。如果一篇論文提供了新的機(jī)械論見解，但缺乏功能驗證，則可以根據(jù)具體情況加以考慮。我們鼓勵作者提交一份審前調(diào)查，以確定給定的研究是否符合這些準(zhǔn)則。基因組學(xué)提交可能需要我們的基因組學(xué)編輯進(jìn)行初步咨詢。

Reflecting the full breadth of research on bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions and viruses, PLOS Pathogens publishes outstanding original research and commentary that significantly advance the understanding of pathogens and how they interact with their host organisms.ScopeBacteria, fungi, parasites, prions and viruses cause a plethora of diseases that have important medical, agricultural, and economic consequences. Moreover, the study of microbes continues to provide novel insights into such fundamental processes as the molecular basis of cellular and organismal function.PLOS Pathogens reflects the full breadth of research in these areas by publishing outstanding original articles that significantly advance the understanding of pathogens and how they interact with their host organisms. Topics include (but are not limited to) adaptive and innate immune defenses as well as pathogen countermeasures, emerging pathogens, evolution, genomics and gene regulation, model host organisms, pathogen-cell biology, pathogenesis, prions, proteomics and signal transduction, rational vaccine design, structural biology, and virulence factors.The journal will not consider purely descriptive studies, such as those that solely identify a new genomic sequence of a related pathogen or a series of related pathogens, the isolation of pathogen variants, or a new strain or type based only on sequence analysis or correlative studies of host and pathogen genotypes.Genomics studies, which include functional predictions or inferences based on genome sequence analysis, will also require additional experimental validation that directly tests the prediction/inference and yields novel conclusions about mechanistic models or pathogenesis. Instances where inferences about potential functions can be supported by association studies of genotype-phenotype combined with existing functional data, may also be appropriate, pending approval by the editors. If a paper provides novel mechanistic insight but lacks functional validation, it may be considered on a case-by-case basis. We encourage authors to submit a presubmission inquiry to determine whether a given study might fit these guidelines. Genomics submissions may go through an initial consultation by our Genomics Editors.