Explosive human population growth and international travel,
combined with a shrinking habitat for animal species and
increased interaction between humans and animals, are
just some of the contributing factors that have led to an
environment ripe with potential infectious threats. While the
development of antimicrobials and vaccines over the last
70 years has played an important role in the fight against
infectious diseases, their unpredictable nature means the
next threat will emerge; it is only a matter of time. Within this
editorial, our readers get more information on the research
response to the next infectious threat, by Jaime E. Hernandez,
of INC Research.