New Advances in Molecular Research of Coronavirus

Dear Colleagues,

More than two years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, thanks to the creation of effective vaccines, the development of new treatment protocols, the emergence of mass immunity, and the evolution of the virus towards less dangerous variants, the severity of coronavirus infection and mortality have decreased significantly; however, as a result of the mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the effectiveness of existing vaccines is reduced and the use of drugs that affect links of the pathological process, such as the interaction of the viral part with receptors and its reproduction in cells, is becoming more and more relevant. In this regard it is necessary to conduct research on the creation of new targeted drugs that inactivate SARS-CoV-2, as well as on the use of already-known drugs (drug repurposing) that can suppress the transport of viral particles into cells and neutralize the proinflammatory effect of coronavirus on the body. Despite progress in understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19, it remains unclear as to what determines a predisposition to severe COVID-19. Further work is required to identify therapy indicators and genetic factors that can serve as prognostic signs of the development of a severe form of this disease. The canonical receptor for SARS-CoV-2 is ACE2; however, new data are emerging regarding the binding of SARS-CoV-2 onto the plasma membrane and the mechanisms of the penetration of viral particles into cells. The role of alternative SARS-CoV-2 receptors in the damage of organs and tissues of the body has not been fully elucidated. After the end of the peak phase of the pandemic, the focus in the fight against COVID-19 is shifting towards overcoming the consequences of this disease, which include musculoskeletal, digestive, and neurological symptoms, pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, and disorders of the blood coagulation system as well as microcirculation. Therefore, it is important to discuss the pathogenetic mechanisms of post-COVID syndrome.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to discuss the issues raised, summarize the accumulated information, and present new data on the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Prof. Dr. Pavel Avdonin
Dr. Evgeny E. Bezsonov
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.