Donor-transmitted diseases: immune mechanisms, screening, and prevention in transplantation

Donor transmitted diseases (DTD) are defined as any disease present in an organ or tissue donor that is transmitted to one or more recipients through transplantation. Their impact on recipient health can be significant, and DTDs may be classified as infectious, immunological, haematological, metabolic, or neoplastic, among other categories. Both clinicians and recipients need to be aware of the potential for transmission in order to recognize early onset in the recipient. When a DTD is identified in one recipient, all other recipients of organs or tissues from the same donor must be rapidly identified and informed. Early notification and treatment improve patient survival and reduce the risk of graft loss. Although screening strategies are effective in most cases, they cannot always prevent transmission to the recipient.This Research Topic aims to bring together current research, clinical experience, and policy perspectives on how the transplant community can better identify, prevent, and manage donor transmitted diseases. As the demand for organs continues to grow, particular attention will be given to strategies that safely expand the donor pool. The true incidence of DTD remains difficult to determine, as reporting methods vary widely across transplant centers and countries, and the consequences for recipients can be severe. DTD events typically arise from a chain of gaps across the transplantation process, including donor evaluation, disease diagnosis, donor risk stratification, and post-transplant monitoring and reporting. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging opportunity in this space, offering the potential to expand the safe use of organs by improving donor-recipient matching and reducing transmission risk. AI-based models may help identify marginal or high-risk organs more accurately, reduce cold ischemia time, and optimize allocation.We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Case Report articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:• Infectious diseases• Haematological diseases• Autoimmune diseases• Neurodegenerative disorders• Bleeding disorders and thrombophilia• Malignancies• Allergies• Metabolic and genetic disorders• Passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS)• Donor risk, including drug use history and sensitized donors• Artificial intelligence in organ transplantation and its role in preventing DTD• Donor-derived cell-free DNA• New diagnostic tools in organ donation Topic editors: Giovanbattista Ippoliti, Axel Rahmel Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85065/donor-transmitted-diseases-immune-mechanisms-screening-and-prevention-in-transplantation