The Inflammasomes - Key Players in Antiviral Response

Dear Colleagues,

The inflammasomes are oligomeric signaling platforms that activate the proteolytic activity of caspases such as caspase-1, which trigger the maturation and secretion of cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-18. The inflammatory caspases also cleave the pore-forming protein gasdermin D that assembles membrane pores to initiate a proinflammatory form of cell death termed pyroptosis. Multiple inflammasomes such as NLRP3 and AIM2 have been implicated in innate antiviral immunity. However, the role of inflammasomes in host protection may be dependent on complex virus–host interactions, and excessive inflammation may contribute to severe tissue damage that exacerbates pathogenesis. This Special Issue of Viruses welcomes both primary research articles and comprehensive reviews that shed light on the complex roles of inflammasomes in antiviral responses. Topics of special interest may include viral modulators of inflammasome activation and pyroptosis; roles of inflammasomes and pyroptosis in viral replication, infection, and pathogenesis; mechanism of proinflammatory cytokine storm; as well as implications of inflammasomes in the design and development of antivirals and vaccines.

Prof. Dr. Dong-Yan Jin
Prof. Dr. Tsan Sam Xiao
Guest Editors

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