反映了對細菌、真菌、寄生蟲、朊病毒和病毒的全面研究，PLoS病原體發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。范圍細菌、真菌、寄生蟲、朊病毒和病毒會導致過多的疾病，這些疾病對醫療、農業和經濟都有重要影響。此外，微生物的研究繼續為細胞和組織功能的分子基礎等基本過程提供新的見解。《公共科學圖書館病原體》通過發表優秀的原創文章，反映了這些領域的全面研究，這些文章極大地促進了對病原體及其與宿主有機體相互作用的理解。主題包括（但不限于）適應性和先天免疫防御以及病原體對策、新出現的病原體、進化、基因組學和基因調控、模型宿主生物體、病原體細胞生物學、發病機制、朊病毒、蛋白質組學和信號轉導、合理的疫苗設計、結構生物學和毒力因子。該雜志不會考慮純粹的描述性研究，例如那些僅識別相關病原體或一系列相關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研究的新菌株或類型的研究。基因組學研究，包括基于基因組序列分析的功能預測或推斷，還需要額外的實驗驗證，直接測試預測/推斷，并得出有關機械模型或發病機制的新結論。在編輯批準之前，基因型表型與現有功能數據的關聯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械論見解，但缺乏功能驗證，則可以根據具體情況加以考慮。我們鼓勵作者提交一份審前調查，以確定給定的研究是否符合這些準則。基因組學提交可能需要我們的基因組學編輯進行初步咨詢。

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.