Genetic Insights into Host-Viral Response and Pathogenesis

Dear Colleagues,

Numerous evidences show that genetics play a leading role in influencing the course of many infectious diseases and the probability of developing the disease. The clearance of the microbial agent is strictly dependent on genetic factors, capable of influencing organ susceptibility and / or the effectiveness of the immune response. For this reason, it is important to understand how viruses, at the molecular level, can dynamically influence chromatin remodeling to allow the regulation of gene expression and other processes that require access to cellular DNA, and how these host-pathogen interactions can influence the genetic diversity of both organisms. Infections are perhaps one of the main selective pressures acting on humans. Knowledge of the virus-host molecular interactions and the identification of the key factors that modify the cellular genome, gene expression and epigenetic modifications are essential for understanding the fate of infections, viral diseases and their pathogenesis.

A better understanding of these interactions at the molecular level, which still remain unknown and unexplored for most viruses, are critical to provide some new perspectives for prevention and drug-treatments and vaccine development.

This special issue focuses on the research field of host virus interaction and welcomes original research articles, short communications and review papers dealing with the molecular and genetic mechanisms on host virus response and pathogenesis.

Prof. Dr. Peggy Marconi
Guest Editor

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