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Molecular Research on Virus-Related Infectious Disease

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 3850

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Guangcai Duan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: molecular epidemiology; genetic engineering; vaccines; molecular biology; CRISPR
Dr. Shuaiyin Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: epidemiology; drug resistance; oncology; infectious diseases; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viruses have a global impact on healthcare and on social and economic development because they are the largest cause of mortality due to infectious disease, such as flu, SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, etc. Investigations into virus-related infectious diseases encompassing molecular epidemiology and molecular etiology play a pivotal role in elucidating viral transmission patterns, epidemic models, as well as intricate host–virus interactions.

In recent years, there has been rapid advancement in molecular research on virus-related infectious diseases; however, continuous exploration of novel techniques and ideas remains imperative, which aims to further enhance our comprehension of viral mechanisms and pave the way for innovative approaches towards prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral infections.

This Special Issue is intended to cover all the past and ongoing efforts on molecular research on virus-related infectious disease. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Molecular diagnosis of viruses;
  • Viral genomics;
  • Host–virus interactions;
  • Molecular pathways;
  • Therapeutic targets;
  • Vaccine development.

Prof. Dr. Guangcai Duan
Dr. Shuaiyin Chen
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. Current Issues in Molecular Biology 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 2200 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

  • molecular diagnosis of viruses
  • viral genomics
  • host–virus interactions
  • molecular pathways
  • therapeutic targets
  • vaccine development

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

19 pages, 20273 KB  
Review
Immunopathogenesis of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: Core Driving Role of Cytokine Storm
by Yuan Ding, Quanman Hu, Yan Hu, Yanyan Yang, Jundong Chen, Fei Zhao, Saiwei Lu, Li Zhang, Shuaiyin Chen and Guangcai Duan
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030263 - 1 Mar 2026
Viewed by 268
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly discovered tick-borne disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection. Patients present with high fever, thrombocytopenia, and multiple organ dysfunction, with a high mortality rate and a lack of specific treatment, all of which indicate [...] Read more.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly discovered tick-borne disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection. Patients present with high fever, thrombocytopenia, and multiple organ dysfunction, with a high mortality rate and a lack of specific treatment, all of which indicate that research on the deterioration mechanism and treatment of this disease is urgent. Currently, multiple studies have indicated that cytokine storm is one of the core factors contributing to the deterioration of the disease. SFTSV inhibits the host’s type I interferon response through its non-structural protein NSs, thereby promoting immune evasion and viral replication. Extensive viral stimulation leads to dysfunction and abnormal polarization of immune cells (including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells), triggering the massive release of pro-inflammatory factors(such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)), anti-inflammatory factors (such as interleukin-10 (IL-10)), and chemokines(such as interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-8 (IL-8)). This cytokine storm exacerbates the imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, as well as immune paralysis, leading to vascular endothelial damage, microthrombosis, and ultimately, multi-organ failure, which determines the clinical outcome. Simultaneously, specific cytokines and immune cell phenotypes can serve as biomarkers for disease severity and prognosis. In terms of treatment, this article further summarizes the intervention strategies targeting the aforementioned immune links, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), tocilizumab (targeting the IL-6 receptor), inhibitors of Janus kinase (JAK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, interferon, neutralizing antibodies, and other immunotherapy methods. By analyzing the dynamic changes and mechanisms of cytokine storm in the course of SFTS, and summarizing current potential immunotherapy methods, this article aims to provide a theoretical framework for the future treatment of SFTS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Virus-Related Infectious Disease)
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18 pages, 464 KB  
Review
Measles: An Updated Literature Review of the Host Response, Pathogenesis, Complications, Prevention Measures, and Recent Outbreaks
by Stefanie Au, Seema Saini, William Dela Cruz and Vishwanath Venketaraman
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020206 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1294
Abstract
Measles remains a significant global health threat due to its extreme transmissibility and the potential for severe, long-term complications. This review synthesizes the most up-to-date literature on the host response, immunological impact, current treatments, and prevention of the measles virus (MeV). The review [...] Read more.
Measles remains a significant global health threat due to its extreme transmissibility and the potential for severe, long-term complications. This review synthesizes the most up-to-date literature on the host response, immunological impact, current treatments, and prevention of the measles virus (MeV). The review details host immune evasion mechanisms, including the antagonism of interferon signaling, discusses genetic associations with vaccine failure, and explores adjunctive treatments like vitamin A and ribavirin. Despite the success of the two-dose MMR vaccine, recent resurgences in the United States, peaking at 2065 cases in 2025, underscore a critical decline in herd immunity driven by vaccine hesitancy and pandemic-related disruptions. However, with no FDA-approved antiviral, primary prevention via vaccination remains the only effective strategy. This paper emphasizes the necessity of strengthening public health outreach and standardizing international surveillance to mitigate the rising incidence of this preventable disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Virus-Related Infectious Disease)
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15 pages, 502 KB  
Review
Pseudovirus as an Emerging Reference Material in Molecular Diagnostics: Advancement and Perspective
by Leiqi Zheng and Sihong Xu
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080596 - 29 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1605
Abstract
In recent years, the persistent emergence of novel infectious pathogens (epitomized by the global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has propelled nucleic acid testing (NAT) into an unprecedented phase of rapid development. As a key [...] Read more.
In recent years, the persistent emergence of novel infectious pathogens (epitomized by the global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has propelled nucleic acid testing (NAT) into an unprecedented phase of rapid development. As a key technology in modern molecular diagnostics, NAT achieves precise pathogen identification through specific nucleic acid sequence recognition, establishing itself as an indispensable diagnostic tool across diverse scenarios, including public health surveillance, clinical decision-making, and food safety control. The reliability of NAT systems fundamentally depends on reference materials (RMs) that authentically mimic the biological characteristics of natural viruses. This critical requirement reveals significant limitations of current RMs in the NAT area: naked nucleic acids lack the structural authenticity of viral particles and exhibit restricted applicability due to stability deficiencies, while inactivated viruses have biosafety risks and inter-batch heterogeneity. Notably, pseudovirus has emerged as a novel RM that integrates non-replicative viral vectors with target nucleic acid sequences. Demonstrating superior performance in mimicking authentic viral structure, biosafety, and stability compared to conventional RMs, the pseudovirus has garnered substantial attention. In this comprehensive review, we critically summarize the engineering strategies of pseudovirus platforms and their emerging role in ensuring the reliability of NAT systems. We also discuss future prospects for standardized pseudovirus RMs, addressing key challenges in scalability, stability, and clinical validation, aiming to provide guidance for optimizing pseudovirus design and practical implementation, thereby facilitating the continuous improvement and innovation of NAT technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Virus-Related Infectious Disease)
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