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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled "Viral Sepsis: Pathogenesis and Therapeutics", delves into the complex and critical realm of sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by a viral infection. We hope that this compilation of articles will bring together cutting-edge research and insights from experts in the field to shed light on the multifaceted aspects of viral sepsis. The Special Issue begins by exploring the pathogenesis of viral sepsis, elucidating the intricate interplay between the virus and the host immune response. It delves into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the dysregulation of the immune system, the cytokine storms, and organ dysfunction that characterize this devastating condition. Furthermore, it will examine the latest diagnostic tools and biomarkers that can aid in the early detection and monitoring of viral sepsis, facilitating timely intervention. One of the central themes of this Special Issue will also be the development of therapeutics for viral sepsis. It presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of antiviral treatments, immunomodulatory strategies, supportive therapies and potential vaccines aimed at mitigating the severity of viral sepsis and improving patient outcomes. Researchers and clinicians alike will find valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in the quest to develop effective therapies. Additionally, the Special Issue will explore the role of precision medicine in tailoring treatment approaches to individual patients, taking into account their genetic and immunological profiles.

Dr. Karolina Akinosoglou
Prof. Dr. Charalambos Gogos
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 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. Viruses 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 2600 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 sepsis
HIV
HBV
HCV
EBV
HDV
HEV
CMV
HSV
HPV
influenza
RSV
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
other viruses
viral infection
sepsis
pathogenesis
diagnosis
therapy
biomarkers
vaccination

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Roma Vulnerable Communities in Western Romania: Insights and Predictive Factors from a Retrospective Study

by Ionut Dragos Capraru, Catalin Marian, Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu, Sonia Tanasescu, Tiberiu Liviu Dragomir, Teodora Daniela Marti, Casiana Boru, Cecilia Roberta Avram, Monica Susan and Cristian Sebastian Vlad

Viruses 2024, 16(3), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030435 - 12 Mar 2024

Viewed by 781

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable populations like Roma patients in Western Romania due to marginalization and limited healthcare access. Methods: A retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and August 2022 using data from the Directorate of Public Health in Timis county. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were assessed, along with risk factors and biomarkers for ICU admission and mortality prediction. The following biomarkers were assessed: C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), IL-6, D-dimers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHD). Results: In comparison with the general population (GP), Roma patients were more overweight (p = 0.0292), came from rural areas (p = 0.0001), could not recall transmission source (p = 0.0215), were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU, p = 0.0399) more frequently, had worse symptomatology (p = 0.0490), showed more elevated levels of CRP (p = 0.0245) and IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and lower levels of HDL (p = 0.0008) and 25-OHD (p = 0.0299). A stronger, significant correlation was observed between CRP and severity (rho = 0.791 vs. 0.433 in GP), and an inverse stronger significant one was observed between HDL and severity (rho = −0.850 vs. −0.734 in GP) in the Roma patients. The male sex continues to be an important risk factor for ICU admission (OR = 2.379) and death (OR = 1.975), while heavy smoking was more important in relation to ICU admission (OR = 1.768). Although the Roma ethnicity was 1.454 times more at risk of ICU admission than the GP, this did not prove statistically significant (p = 0.0751). CRP was the most important predictive factor in regards to admission to the ICU for both Roma (OR = 1.381) and the GP (OR = 1.110) and in regards to death (OR = 1.154 for Roma, OR = 1.104 for GP). A protective effect of normal values of HDL and 25-OHD was observed in the GP for both ICU admission (OR = 0.947, 0.853, respectively) and death (OR = 0.920, 0.921, respectively), while for the Roma group, normal 25-OHD values were only considered protective in regards to death (OR = 0.703). Cutoff values for ICU admission were 28.98 mg/L for Roma and 29.03 mg/L for GP patients, with high specificity for both groups (over 95). Conclusions: Higher rates of ICU admissions, severe symptomatology, and distinct laboratory biomarker profiles among Roma patients emphasize the critical importance of personalized care strategies and targeted interventions to mitigate the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities. CRP values at admission have had a clear impact as a risk assessment biomarker for Roma patients, while the significance of IL-6, HDL, and 25-OHD should also not be overlooked in these patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Sepsis: Pathogenesis, Diagnostics and Therapeutics)

Review

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15 pages, 654 KiB

Open AccessReview

Impact of Prior COVID-19 Immunization and/or Prior Infection on Immune Responses and Clinical Outcomes

by Achilleas Livieratos, Charalambos Gogos and Karolina Akinosoglou

Viruses 2024, 16(5), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16050685 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 492

Abstract

Cellular and humoral immunity exhibit dynamic adaptation to the mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is noteworthy that immune responses differ significantly, influenced by whether a patient has received vaccination or whether there is co-occurrence of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced immunity, known as hybrid immunity. The different immune reactions, conditional on vaccination status and the viral variant involved, bear implications for inflammatory responses, patient outcomes, pathogen transmission rates, and lingering post-COVID conditions. Considering these developments, we have performed a review of recently published literature, aiming to disentangle the intricate relationships among immunological profiles, transmission, the long-term health effects post-COVID infection poses, and the resultant clinical manifestations. This investigation is directed toward understanding the variability in the longevity and potency of cellular and humoral immune responses elicited by immunization and hybrid infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Sepsis: Pathogenesis, Diagnostics and Therapeutics)

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