Pan-genomics in One Health: linking pathogens, hosts, and environments

The One Health approach recognizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health for managing global health challenges. The increasing incidence of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental degradation underscores the relevance of integrated surveillance strategies. In this context, pan-genomics has emerged as a valuable tool for characterizing the genetic diversity of bacterial pathogens across hosts, geographic regions, and ecological niches. By distinguishing core from accessory genome components, pan-genomic analyses inform vaccine target identification through reverse vaccinology; elucidate antimicrobial resistance determinants; and reveal host adaptation mechanisms. This review examines the application of pan-genomics within the One Health framework, focusing on bacterial pathogens of relevance to human, animal, and environmental health, including Bacillus anthracis , Mycobacterium bovis , Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis , Mycobacterium marinum , Leptospira interrogans , Yersinia pestis , Francisella tularensis , Corynebacterium ulcerans , and Vibrio vulnificus . For each pathogen, we discuss available genomic data, pan-genome characteristics, and implications for surveillance, diagnostics, and intervention strategies. Additionally, we address the role of metagenomics in environmental monitoring and the contribution of computational approaches, such as reverse vaccinology and subtractive genomics, to the development of novel therapeutic and prophylactic targets.