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Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals

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A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 14438

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nereida Jiménez de Oya

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Guest Editor

ZOOVIR, Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: virology; emerging viruses; zoonoses; arboviruses; flaviviruses; host-virus interaction; pathogenesis; antiviral immunity; vaccines; antivirals; diagnosis; epidemiology; animal and human health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viruses are extreme intracellular parasites that establish complex relationships with their hosts. Thus, co-evolution exists between the pathogenic mechanisms that viruses exert on the host and the consequent response of the immune system that develops to combat them. Our current life system, globalization, and climate change accelerate and favor its dispersion, giving rise to (re)-emergencies and epidemic outbreaks, often with new associated pathogenic mechanisms, which, as we have seen recently, can have devastating effects on society.

The control of viruses is based, among other aspects, on prevention and treatment; therefore, this Special Issue aims to gather new knowledge on the mechanisms of pathogenesis and antiviral immunity, together with novel approaches to the development of vaccines and antiviral therapies.

New technologies, including cutting-edge technologies such as omics, are enabling more rational and rapid approaches and advancements in the development of effective vaccines and antivirals, as well as in the understanding of these pathogens, and should be the starting point of current research.

Thus, studies describing new knowledge of these pathogens, such as mechanisms of virulence and viral escape from immune response, pathogenesis, and host immunity; the development of novel and effective vaccines; and new antiviral treatments are welcome.

Dr. Nereida Jiménez de Oya
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

Keywords

viral infections
mechanisms of virulence
pathogenesis
antiviral immunity
viral escape
vaccines
antivirals

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 1686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Connection between MiR-122 and Lymphocytes in Patients Receiving Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

by Marina Manea, Dimitri Apostol and Ileana Constantinescu

Microorganisms 2023, 11(11), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11112731 - 8 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 826

Abstract

New molecular predictors for the response to treatment in HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection are assessed. Among them is miR-122. Our article searches the connection between miR-122 and the counts of lymphocytes in chronic HBV patients receiving treatment. We included the sera of 38 Romanian subjects with chronic HBV infection (20 receiving treatment and 18 not receiving treatment) and 5 healthy controls. The expression of miR-122 was determined using RT-PCR (real-time PCR) and a 2^−ΔΔCT method. Two systematic analyses were also performed on databases (PUBMED, Web of Science, and Science Direct), eliminating systematic reviews, editorials, letters to editors, meta-analyses, reviews, conference proceedings, or pre-print manuscripts. We included human-based articles following the PRISMA criteria and the Newcastle Ottawa Assessment Scale for Case–Control and Cohort studies. R 4.2.2 was used for statistics, and MIENTURNET and STRING were used for the bioinformatic analysis. Our results showed a link between the variations in the expression of miR-122 and the counts of lymphocytes in HBV Romanian patients receiving therapy. Treatment influenced miR-122 and the lymphocyte numbers. This is the first study with these results, and it may lead to a new perspective on the inter-relationships between microRNAs and therapy in HBV patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals)

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13 pages, 2844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Guanylate-Binding Protein 2 Exerts GTPase-Dependent Anti-Ectromelia Virus Effect

by Zhenzhen Gao, Zejing Meng, Xiaobing He, Guohua Chen, Yongxiang Fang, Huihui Tian, Hui Zhang and Zhizhong Jing

Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2258; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092258 - 8 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 887

Abstract

Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) are highly expressed interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that play significant roles in protecting against invading pathogens. Although their functions in response to RNA viruses have been extensively investigated, there is limited information available regarding their role in DNA viruses, particularly poxviruses. Ectromelia virus (ECTV), a member of the orthopoxvirus genus, is a large double-stranded DNA virus closely related to the monkeypox virus and variola virus. It has been intensively studied as a highly effective model virus. According to the study, GBP2 overexpression suppresses ECTV replication in a dose-dependent manner, while GBP2 knockdown promotes ECTV infection. Additionally, it was discovered that GBP2 primarily functions through its N-terminal GTPase activity, and the inhibitory effect of GBP2 was disrupted in the GTP-binding-impaired mutant GBP2^K51A. This study is the first to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of GBP2 on ECTV, and it offers insights into innovative antiviral strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals)

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18 pages, 4115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Duration of Immunity Induced after Vaccination of Cattle with a Live Attenuated or Inactivated Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Vaccine

by Andy Haegeman, Ilse De Leeuw, Laurent Mostin, Willem Van Campe, Wannes Philips, Mehdi Elharrak, Nick De Regge and Kris De Clercq

Microorganisms 2023, 11(1), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11010210 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4677

Abstract

Vaccines have proven themselves as an efficient way to control and eradicate lumpy skin disease (LSD). In addition to the safety and efficacy aspects, it is important to know the duration for which the vaccines confer protective immunity, as this impacts the design of an efficient control and eradication program. We evaluated the duration of immunity induced by a live attenuated vaccine (LSDV LAV) and an inactivated vaccine (LSDV Inac), both based on LSDV. Cattle were vaccinated and challenged after 6, 12 and 18 months for LSDV LAV or after 6 and 12 months for the LSDV Inac. The LSDV LAV elicited a strong immune response and protection for up to 18 months, as no clinical signs or viremia could be observed after a viral LSDV challenge in any of the vaccinated animals. A good immune response and protection were similarly seen for the LSDV Inac after 6 months. However, two animals developed clinical signs and viremia when challenged after 12 months. In conclusion, our data support the annual booster vaccination when using the live attenuated vaccine, as recommended by the manufacturer, which could potentially even be prolonged. In contrast, a bi-annual vaccination seems necessary when using the inactivated vaccine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals)

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Review

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14 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ophthalmic Features and Implications of Poxviruses: Lessons from Clinical and Basic Research

by Tolulope Fashina, Ye Huang, Joanne Thomas, Christopher D. Conrady and Steven Yeh

Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2487; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122487 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1432

Abstract

Amidst the ongoing monkeypox outbreak, global awareness has been directed towards the prevention of viral transmission and case management, with the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Monkeypox virus is one of several species in the Orthopoxvirus genus, with other species of the genus including the variola, cowpox, mousepox, camelpox, raccoonpox, skunkpox, and volepox viruses. Although the nomenclature of these species is based on the animal host from which they were originally isolated, transmission from animals to humans has been reported with several species. The progression of disease, following an incubation period, typically consists of a prodromal phase with systemic flu-like symptoms. Various organ systems may be affected in addition to the formation of pathognomonic skin lesions. As monkeypox poses a continued public health concern, the ophthalmic sequelae of monkeypox virus, especially those leading to vision loss, warrant consideration as well. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the ophthalmic implications of poxviruses in clinical and laboratory settings reported in the literature, as well as areas of unmet need and future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals)

23 pages, 1347 KiB

Open AccessReview

Impaired VEGF-A-Mediated Neurovascular Crosstalk Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Potential Hypothesis Explaining Long COVID-19 Symptoms and COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects?

by Rossella Talotta

Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2452; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122452 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5229

Abstract

Long coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered syndrome characterized by multiple organ manifestations that persist for weeks to months, following the recovery from acute disease. Occasionally, neurological and cardiovascular side effects mimicking long COVID-19 have been reported in recipients of COVID-19 vaccines. Hypothetically, the clinical similarity could be due to a shared pathogenic role of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein produced by the virus or used for immunization. The S protein can bind to neuropilin (NRP)-1, which normally functions as a coreceptor for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. By antagonizing the docking of VEGF-A to NRP-1, the S protein could disrupt physiological pathways involved in angiogenesis and nociception. One consequence could be the increase in unbound forms of VEGF-A that could bind to other receptors. SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals may exhibit increased plasma levels of VEGF-A during both acute illness and convalescence, which could be responsible for diffuse microvascular and neurological damage. A few studies suggest that serum VEGF-A may also be a potential biomarker for long COVID-19, whereas evidence for COVID-19 vaccines is lacking and merits further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Control of Viral Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Vaccines and Antivirals)

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