Viral and Host Targets to Fight RNA Viruses: 2nd Edition
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editor
Interests: medicinal chemistry; organic chemistry; chemical biology; antibiotics; antiviral agents; anticancer agents; efflux pump inhibitors; polymerase inhibitors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue, “Viral and Host Targets to Fight RNA Viruses” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/D78L3HYYQ2).
RNA viruses include a wide range of human pathogens. Some of the most studied and well-known are the hepatotropic and lymphotropic hepatitis C virus, respiratory viruses such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses, and vector-borne viruses such as the flaviviruses Dengue, Zika, and West Nile. Other RNA viruses, including Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever virus, phleboviruses, and nairoviruses, are less studied and, therefore, less understood, but they may also represent future challenges. Present in reservoir hosts such as rodents, bats, and wild birds, or transmitted by vectors such as ticks and mosquitoes, RNA viruses are often the cause of human epidemics and, occasionally, pandemics. Unfortunately, antiviral therapeutics for most viral diseases are lacking, or, when available, are often subject to side effects and the onset of resistance. Accordingly, research focused on discovering new approaches to combat RNA viruses is in strong demand and depends on close cooperation among disciplines such as biochemistry, virology, medicinal and organic chemistry, and chemical, cellular, and molecular biology.
This Special Issue aims to collect studies focused on (i) the discovery of novel antiviral agents (direct-acting and host-targeting agents); (ii) the investigation of mechanisms of action; and (iii) the identification of new druggable targets. High-quality reviews and original research articles on novel approaches to fighting RNA viruses are welcome. Theoretical studies are encouraged only if supported by experimental validation.
Dr. Tommaso Felicetti
Guest Editor
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- RNA viruses
- antiviral agents
- medicinal chemistry
- direct-acting antivirals
- host-targeting agents
- drug design
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
