Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Infections, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 439

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
2. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital of Circolo and Estabilshment Macchi, Varese, Italy
Interests: respiratory viruses; microbiology infection
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. With around 3 million people dying from RTI-related causes each year, RTIs are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Between 50% and 90% of RTIs are caused by respiratory viruses (RVs). These include human rhinovirus (HRV), influenza A and B virus (IAV and IBV), human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and human adenovirus (HAdV), parainfluenzavirus (HPIV), and human adenovirus (HAdV). The highest rates of morbidity and mortality from RTIs are found in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. However, healthy individuals without underlying risk factors can also be affected. The recent acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has increased awareness of the dramatic effect that respiratory infections can have on human and global health.

Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were underappreciated causes of critical illness within the population. As the current pandemic has demonstrated, there are limited options for the prophylaxis and treatment of viral RTIs. Vaccines are available for some viruses, such as influenza and adenovirus, but both efficacy and coverage are suboptimal.

The recent implementation of vaccines in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has enabled the control of its circulation, particularly among vulnerable groups such as newborns and the elderly. Nevertheless, studies investigating the effects of prophylaxis on RSV are ongoing, employing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and immunological techniques.

This Special Issue welcomes submissions related to the monitoring of respiratory infections, the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, and the possible impacts of respiratory virus diseases, as well as respiratory virus sequencing by WGS. In particular, we encourage submissions that study cases or clusters of viral variants in small and large communities and the detection of unusual epidemiological events, as well as the genomic characteristics and immunological aspects.

Dr. Federica Novazzi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • respiratory tract infections
  • lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs)
  • upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs)
  • whole-genome sequencing (WGS)
  • immunological techniques
 

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2053 KB  
Article
Reinfection-Driven Accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: A 36-Month Longitudinal Study in Austrian Blood Donors
by Orkan Kartal, Alexandra Domnica Hoeggerl, Wanda Lauth, Lisa Weidner, Natalie Badstuber, Christoph Grabmer, Christof Jungbauer, Verena Nunhofer, Heidrun Neureiter, Nina Held, Tuulia Ortner, Eva Rohde and Sandra Laner-Plamberger
Diagnostics 2026, 16(2), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020195 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Long-term serological studies are essential to understand how repeated antigenic exposure affects the specific humoral immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics in Austrian blood donors, as representatives of healthy adults, over a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Long-term serological studies are essential to understand how repeated antigenic exposure affects the specific humoral immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics in Austrian blood donors, as representatives of healthy adults, over a period of 36 months after the first SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 anti-N antibody levels were determined in more than 146,000 blood donations collected between 2020 and 2025. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 anti-N and anti-S antibody dynamics were examined in 204 individual blood donors at predefined points in time over a period of 36 months. Reinfections were inferred from increases in anti-N levels within an individual. Vaccination history and self-reported infection data were documented. Results: Anti-N seroprevalence was over 90% from the beginning of 2023 and remained at this level until 2025. Among the longitudinally observed participants, 97% had at least one serologically detected reinfection and 50% had two or more. While anti-N levels continued to increase over time, suggesting cumulative antigenic stimulation, anti-S concentrations and in vitro antibody functionality remained consistently high. Self-reported reinfections underestimated the actual incidence by a factor of six. Symptom profiles shifted toward mild respiratory manifestations, with significantly fewer cases of hyposmia or dysgeusia reported compared to the initial infection. Conclusions: After three years of observation, SARS-CoV-2 immunity is characterized by sustained antibody activity. The results show a transition from persistent, but inherently declining, to a repeatedly rebuilding, enhanced humoral immunity, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 has become endemic in Austria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Infections, 2nd Edition)
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