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Viral Infections and Host Immune Responses

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2024) | Viewed by 2821

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy
Interests: viral infections; RNA viruses; retroviruses; HIV-1; endogenous retroviruses; virus-host interactions; immune response to viral infections; innate immunity; vaccines

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Guest Editor
National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Roma, Italy
Interests: infectious disease; viral pathogenesis; retrovirus; non-human primate model; HIV/AIDS vaccine; molecular epidemiology; immune response; coinfections

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past two decades, emerging viral epidemics, climate change, and population migration have resulted in greater vulnerability to the transmission of old, new, and re-emerging infectious diseases. Although humans are constantly exposed to numerous viruses, the consequences of infection vary among individuals. In order to respond effectively to viral infections, the immune system must assess the threat posed by each pathogen by analyzing its molecular components and comparing them to those of the host. In viral infections, the host’s innate immune system is designed to act as the first line of defence to prevent viral invasion or replication before the adaptive immune system generates a more rapid and robust protective response. Some viruses, such as the influenza virus, are capable of stimulating immediate antibody production and an effective immune response in the host. As a result, in most cases, these pathogens are definitively eradicated from the organism after an acute phase of the illness. This is not the case with other viruses, such as HCV and HIV, responsible for hepatitis C and AIDS, respectively, which often lead to chronic viral diseases.

Understanding the precise mechanisms by which viruses and the immune system interact is not only an intriguing challenge but also crucial for the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of recent advances in the field of “Viral Infections and Host Immune Responses”. We invite you to contribute in the form of original research articles, reviews, or short communications. Topics of interest include the innate immune response to viral infection and the cellular factors involved; the adaptive T and B cell immune response; as well as the immune response in acute and chronic infections and in co-infections.

Dr. Barbara Ridolfi
Dr. Maria Teresa Maggiorella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • virus infections
  • virus–host interaction
  • innate immunity
  • adaptive immunity
  • host factors
  • co-infections
  • acute and chronic infections
  • restriction factors
  • therapeutic strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 6209 KiB  
Article
Functional Characterisation of Surfactant Protein A as a Novel Prophylactic Means against Oncogenic HPV Infections
by Sinead Carse, Tim Reid, Jens Madsen, Howard Clark, Artur Kirjakulov, Martina Bergant Marušič and Georgia Schäfer
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7712; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147712 - 14 Jul 2024
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Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection poses a significant health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where limited healthcare access and awareness hinder vaccine accessibility. To identify alternative HPV targeting interventions, we previously reported on surfactant protein A (SP-A) as a novel molecule [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection poses a significant health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where limited healthcare access and awareness hinder vaccine accessibility. To identify alternative HPV targeting interventions, we previously reported on surfactant protein A (SP-A) as a novel molecule capable of recognising HPV16 pseudovirions (HPV16-PsVs) and reducing infection in a murine cervicovaginal HPV challenge model. Building on these findings, our current study aimed to assess SP-A’s suitability as a broad-spectrum HPV-targeting molecule and its impact on innate immune responses. We demonstrate SP-A’s ability to agglutinate and opsonise multiple oncogenic HPV-PsVs types, enhancing their uptake and clearance by RAW264.7 murine macrophages and THP-1 human-derived immune cells. The SP-A opsonisation of HPV not only led to increased lysosomal accumulation in macrophages and HaCaT keratinocytes but also resulted in a decreased infection of HaCaT cells, which was further decreased when co-cultured with innate immune cells. An analysis of human innate immune cell cytokine profiles revealed a significant inflammatory response upon SP-A exposure, potentially contributing to the overall inhibition of HPV infection. These results highlight the multi-layered impact of SP-A on HPV, innate immune cells and keratinocytes and lay the basis for the development of alternative prophylactic interventions against diverse HPV types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections and Host Immune Responses)
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Review

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31 pages, 2854 KiB  
Review
Advancements in LAMP-Based Diagnostics: Emerging Techniques and Applications in Viral Detection with a Focus on Herpesviruses in Transplant Patient Management
by Ana Cláudia Martins Braga Gomes Torres, Carolina Mathias, Suelen Cristina Soares Baal, Ana Flávia Kohler, Mylena Lemes Cunha and Lucas Blanes
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(21), 11506; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111506 - 26 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a highly effective molecular diagnostic technique, particularly advantageous for point-of-care (POC) settings. In recent years, LAMP has expanded to include various adaptations such as DARQ-LAMP, QUASR, FLOS-LAMP, displacement probes and molecular beacons. These methods enable multiplex detection of [...] Read more.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a highly effective molecular diagnostic technique, particularly advantageous for point-of-care (POC) settings. In recent years, LAMP has expanded to include various adaptations such as DARQ-LAMP, QUASR, FLOS-LAMP, displacement probes and molecular beacons. These methods enable multiplex detection of multiple targets in a single reaction, enhancing cost-effectiveness and diagnostic efficiency. Consequently, LAMP has gained significant traction in diagnosing diverse viruses, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its application for detecting Herpesviridae remains relatively unexplored. This group of viruses is of particular interest due to their latency and potential reactivation, crucial for immunocompromised patients, including organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. This review highlights recent advancements in LAMP for virus diagnosis and explores current research trends and future prospects, emphasizing the detection challenges posed by Herpesviridae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections and Host Immune Responses)
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