ZooKeys invites research publications on the biology of bats and pangolins with the aim to shed light on the factors that make certain organisms like bats and pangolins particularly efficient vectors of diseases capable of causing global emergencies and irreversible damages, such as COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The APCs for this upcoming collection will be waived.

By means of Open Science, ZooKeys aims to contribute with real-time findings and data to the efforts of scientific teams, experts and other decision-makers across the globe, in order to advance the world’s understanding of the transmission pathways and potential vectors of zoonotic diseases. By adding further knowledge to the key factors that pave the way for global public health emergencies, such quality research publications are to ultimately help the mitigation and prevention of similar devastating events in the future.