Bridging taxonomic and disciplinary divides in infectious disease

Area of Science:

• Infectious disease ecology
• Interdisciplinary research
• One Health

Background:

• Infectious disease research is siloed within distinct disciplines (e.g., plant pathology, human/veterinary medicine, ecology).
• Disciplinary differences in traditions, goals, and terminology create communication barriers.
• Pathogens transcend disciplinary and taxonomic boundaries, necessitating integrated research approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for bridging disciplinary and taxonomic gaps in infectious disease research.
• To propose an integrated approach across the plant-animal divide for enhanced disease understanding.
• To advocate for increased investment in fundamental infectious disease research.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual analysis and synthesis of existing research paradigms.
• It emphasizes the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration.
• It advocates for a unified framework to study pathogen transmission, evolution, and community interactions.

Main Results:

• Bridging disciplinary gaps promises novel insights and synergistic advances in disease control.
• An integrated approach can improve quantification of transmission, evolution, and ecological interactions.
• Understanding disease complexity requires multi-scale analysis across spatial and temporal dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Integrating research across the plant-animal divide is crucial for advancing infectious disease science.
• Enhanced understanding of pathogen dynamics and evolution can be achieved through interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Substantial investment in basic disease research is essential for future breakthroughs in disease control.