Geography, genes, and germs: An evolutionary entanglement

Abstract

This journal issue presents an article on genomic surveillance and phylogenetic analysis for monitoring SARS-CoV-2, alongside reviews of recent advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer, and current insights into mpox. It includes a perspective on the role of extended reality techniques in pediatric neurosurgery, as well as updates on cleft care and the relationship between mitochondrial bioenergetics and iron. Further contributions explore the link between metastatic potential and cytidine deaminase, miRNA targets involved in hypertrophy and fibrosis during cardiac remodeling, and new deep-learning models for predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. The expression of connexin gap junction proteins in atrial fibrillation is examined in detail, along with a retrospective study on enteral autonomy in pediatric short bowel syndrome. The issue concludes with novel insights into the rare genetic disorder Bietti crystalline dystrophy.

Keywords: Bietti crystalline dystrophy; Cardiac remodeling; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Metastasis; Pediatric surgery; SARS-CoV-2.

Fig. 1

Simplified timeline highlighting key milestones as reviewed by Gong et al. [13] on SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, integrating next-generation sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and data science methodologies in guiding public health responses. It reflects Taiwan's unique challenges, including high population density and its position as a major international transit hub, and underscores the growing role of phylodynamic analytics and interdisciplinary approaches in informing decisions on containment, travel policies, and vaccination strategies.