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International Journal of Molecular Sciences publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Advances in Surfactant Systems: Thermodynamics, Molecular Interactions, and Applications

edited by

Mihalj Poša

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 709 | Submission Open

Keywords: micelles; mixed micelles; thermodynamic functions of micellization; micellar solubilization; enthalpy– entropy compensation; boundary surface; Langmuir isotherm; theoretical models

(This special issue belongs to the Section Biochemistry)

From Plant Genomics Investigations to Plant Biotechnology Exploitation

edited by

Maria R. Ercolano

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 702 | Submission Open

Keywords: sequencing; plant genomes; biotechnological applications; translational genomics; new discoveries

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)

Lung Diseases and Lung Transplantations: Molecular Pathogenesis and Advanced Therapies

edited by Christopher Lambers

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 701 | Submission Open

Keywords: lung disease; lung transplantation; ECMO; EVLP; LAS; antibody-mediated rejection (AMR); CLAD; RAS/BOS; immunosuppression; pathogenesis; cell-free DNA; IPF therapies; gene therapies; stem cell therapies; immunotherapies

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

The Role of Selenium in Human Health and Disease

edited by

Youcef M. Rustum

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 693 | Submission Open

Keywords: selenium; oxidative stress; immune modulation; cancer prevention and therapy

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Marine Fungi: From Molecular Biology to Biotechnology Application

edited by

Guang-Lei Liu

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 689 | Submission Open

Keywords: marine fungi; marine yeasts; marine filamentous fungi; biosynthesis; metabolic engineering; regulatory mechanism; functional biomolecules; exopolysaccharides; glycolipids; organic acids; biofuel; enzymes; cell factories; gene editing tools; fermentation optimization

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)

The Interaction Between Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Stem Cell

edited by

Na Luo

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 689 | Submission Open

Keywords: tumor microenvironment; cancer stem cells; innate and adaptive immunity; mesenchymal stromal cells

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)

Mechanisms of Protein–Ligand Interactions in Therapies for Lifestyle Diseases and Their Complications

edited by Agnieszka Szkudlarek

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 661 | Submission Open

Keywords: chronic diseases and their complications; protein– ligand interactions; protein modifications; therapeutic efficacy; binding affinity; serum proteins; pharmaceutical applications; biomedical research

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

Autophagy and Programmed Cell Death in Plants and Algae

edited by

Sławomir Borek

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 642 | Submission Open

Keywords: algal autophagy and PCD; autophagy-related (Atg) genes and proteins; biotic and abiotic stresses; caspase-like proteases; crop plant improvement; macro-; micro-; and mega-autophagy; metacaspases; selective autophagy; signaling; vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs)

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)

The Medicinal Mechanism and Application of Biologically Active Compounds in Melanoma

edited by Rosanna Avola and Adriana C. E. Graziano

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 617 | Submission Open

Keywords: biologically active compounds; medicinal mechanism; cancer; melanoma; chemoprevention; anticancer effect; immunomodulation; apoptosis

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Functional Materials in Photocatalysis: From Design to Application

edited by

Miguel Díaz-Sánchez

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 616 | Submission Open

Keywords: nanostructured materials ; photocatalysis ; catalysis ; green synthesis ; material design ; surface engineering

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Science)

Retinoids in Ageing and Age-Related Diseases

edited by

Paul L. Chazot

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 598 | Submission Open

Keywords: retinoids; retinoic acid; ageing; age-related diseases

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

Advances in Innate Immune Mechanism of Autoimmune Syndrome

edited by Diana Prieto-Peña

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 588 | Submission Open

Keywords: innate immunity; autoimmune syndrome; cell subsets; pathogenesis; translational; therapeutic modulation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

Molecular Insights into Agrifood Waste Valorization: From By-Products to Sustainable Resources

edited by

Elena Dreassi

and

Annalaura Brai

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 542 | Submission Open

Keywords: antioxidants; by-products; antimicrobials; nutraceuticals; food industry; circular economy

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Molecular Mechanism of VCP/p97 in Health and Diseases

edited by

Isabelle Rouiller

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 530 | Submission Open

Keywords: AAA ATPase; VCP/p97/cdc48/TER ATPase; AAA ATPase; protein unfolding; protein degradation; protein quality control; ERAD; mitochondria-associated degradation; lysosome degradation; ribosome-associated degradation; membrane fusion and trafficking; ubiquitin; TDP43; inclusion body myopathy (IBM); paget disease (PD); frontotemporal dementia (FD); MSP1; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); charcot-marie-tooth disease 2Y; Parkinson’ s disease; intellectual development disabilities (IDDs); lysosomal diseases; tauopathies

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

The Impact of Environmental Factors on Male Reproductive Development and Disorders

edited by

Gennaro Lettieri

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 503 | Submission Open

Keywords: spermatozoa; DNA; protamine; male reproductive health; pollution; endocrine disruption; heavy metals

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

Influenza Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development

edited by

Awad Shehata

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 500 | Submission Open

Keywords: avian influenza; influenza virus; influenza surveillance; interspecies transmission; immune response; pandemic preparedness; pathogenesis; One Health; universal vaccines; vaccine development; viral adaptation; viral evolution; zoonotic infections

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)

Recent Progress in Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Polyoxometalates and Their Nanocrystals

edited by

Xiang Ma

and

Pengtao Ma

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 488 | Submission Open

Keywords: polyoxometalates; POMs; metal cluster compound; inorganic chemistry; nanocrystals

(This special issue belongs to the Section Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics)

The Medicinal Mechanism of Natural Products in Cancer Therapies

edited by

Clement G. Yedjou

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 475 | Submission Open

Keywords: natural product; phytochemicals; protein– ligand interaction; mechanism of action; drug discovery; prevention; treatment

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Exploring Molecular-Scale and Nano-Scale Materials: Design, Characterization and Application

edited by Xiaogang Li

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 465 | Submission Open

Keywords: molecular scale; nano scale; material design and preparation; characterization; regulation; application

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Nanoscience)

Molecular Insights into the Precision Medicine on Neoplastic Diseases: Challenges, Perspectives and Opportunities

edited by

Manuela Montanaro

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 452 | Submission Open

Keywords: cancer; molecular biology; precision medicine; targeted therapy

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)

Proteases and Their Inhibitors

edited by

Dominique Belin

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 433 | Submission Open

Keywords: protease; serine proteases; thiol proteases; acid proteases; metalloproteases; protease inhibitor; SERPINs

(This special issue belongs to the Section Biochemistry)

Microbial Mediators: The Bridge Between Soils, Plants, and Animal Infectious Diseases

edited by Wensheng Fang,

Tilocca Bruno

and Bin Huang

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 431 | Submission Open

Keywords: micro-organisms; soil health; plant– microbe interactions; microbial regulation; agricultural ecosystems; animal infectious diseases; microbiome; microbiota

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)

Dietary Polyphenols for Improving Gut Health

edited by Andreia Gomes

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 430 | Submission Open

Keywords: microbiota diversity; gut health; polyphenols; polyphenol bioavailability; immune function; inflammation; therapeutic potential of polyphenols; host health

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Discovery of Proteins Leading to New Asthma Treatments

edited by

Alberto Spisni

and

Elena Ferrari

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 420 | Submission Open

Keywords: asthma; allergens; proteomic analysis; bioinformatics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

Roles of Neutrophils in Autoimmune Diseases and Cancers

edited by

Jasmin Knopf

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 416 | Submission Open

Keywords: neutrophils; neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); autoimmunity; autoimmune disease(s); cancer; oncology

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

New Advances in DNA Nanotechnology

edited by Zhaoqi Yang

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 416 | Submission Open

Keywords: DNA nanotechnology; DNA-based drug delivery; DNA cages and DNA polyhedra; DNA origami; DNA-based electronic circuits; DNA-based sensors; DNA-based catalysis; DNA-based data storage

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Nanoscience)

Protein-Based Composite Materials: 2nd Edition

edited by

Xiao Hu

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 413 | Submission Open

Keywords: protein biopolymer; composite film; fiber; foam; gel; particle; sensor; and device; biomacromolecules and functional materials; polymer composite design and characterization; protein physical and chemical properties

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Science)

Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease, Leishmaniasis, and West Nile Virus Vectors in the Old and New World

edited by

Ildefonso Fernández-Salas

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 404 | Submission Open

Keywords: triatominae; Trypanosoma cruzi; Leishmania; Culex; Lutzomya; phlebotomus; epidemiology; neglected; populations; vectors

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)

Molecular Pharmacology of Protein Kinase Inhibitor

edited by

Liming Hu

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 404 | Submission Open

Keywords: protein kinase inhibitor; molecular pharmacology; signaling pathway; preclinical/clinical evaluation; computational modeling; toxicity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)

Innovative Biomaterials for Advanced Applications in Regenerative Medicine and Drug Delivery

edited by

Calogero Fiorica

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 389 | Submission Open

Keywords: biomaterials; drug delivery; regenerative medicine; stimuli-responsive polymers; 3D scaffolds; micro-nanocarriers

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Science)

Advanced Molecular Research in Polymers and Organic Semiconductors

edited by Ovidio Amado Almanza

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 372 | Submission Open

Keywords: polymer; organic semiconductors; molecular design; molecular interactions; thermal properties; optical properties; biointerfaces; sustainable materials

(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials Science)

Biotransformation and Engineering of Fungals and Microalgae

edited by

Alejandro Chamizo-Ampudia

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 367 | Submission Open

Keywords: biotransformation pathways; metabolic engineering; bioactive compound synthesis; enzyme catalysis; microalgae– fungi synergy

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Microbiology)

Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Biliary Diseases: From Molecular Basis to Therapy

edited by

Consolato M. Sergi

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 365 | Submission Open

Keywords: pediatrics; gastroenterology; biliary; therapy; genetics; biology

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

Molecular Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

edited by

Evangelia Fouka

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 364 | Submission Open

Keywords: COPD; epigenetics; mitochondrial dysfunction; autophagy; proteomics; single-cell sequencing; metabolomics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutics

edited by

Nerina Denaro

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 361 | Submission Open

Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma; immunotherapy; melanoma; non-melanoma

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)

Pain Chronicity and Relief: From Molecular Basis to Rehabilitation

edited by

Katsuya Kami

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 353 | Submission Open

Keywords: exercise-induced hypoalgesia; barrier factor; chronic pain; neuropathic pain; spinal cord dorsal horn; mesocorticolimbic system; myokine; descending pain modulatory system

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

Bioactive Peptides: Microbial Fermentation-Driven Synthesis and Multifunctional Applications in Health and Industry

edited by

Yongjun Wei

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 331 | Submission Open

Keywords: bioactive peptides; foods; probiotics; fermentation; pharmaceutical; herbs

(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

Host Immunity and Viral Evolution: Dissecting the Molecular Variations of Viral Genomes

edited by Maria Victoria Preciado

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 323 | Submission Open

Keywords: virus evolution; immune response; host– virus interaction; vaccine design; antiviral design; virus emergence and reemergence; bioinformatics; immunoinformatics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

Cellular Plasticity in Health and Diseases

edited by

Giovanni Barillari

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 322 | Submission Open

Keywords: stem cells; cytokines; extracellular matrix; cell differentiation; cell locomotion; cell growth; tissue repair; chronic inflammation; dysplasia; hyperplasia; premalignant lesions; cancer

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

HIV Expression in Diverse Cell Types: Mechanisms, Regulation, and Pathogenesis

edited by

Rosemary Kiernan

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 311 | Submission Open

Keywords: hiv transcription; latency; reactivation; host transcription factors; chromatin modifications; viral-host protein interactions

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

Autophagy: Novel Insights from Molecular and Chemical Biology

edited by

Prashant R Bharadwaj

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 304 | Submission Open

Keywords: Alzheimer’ s disease; amyloid precursor protein; amyloid-β protein; protein aggregation; intracellular clearance pathways; autophagy– lysosomal pathway; ubiquitin-proteasome system; small molecule drugs; autophagy modulators; drug development

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biophysics)

Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of Immune Cells, 3rd Edition

edited by

Balik Dzhambazov

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 291 | Submission Open

Keywords: autoimmune diseases; antigens/autoantigens; post-translational modifications; antigen processing and presentation; shared epitopes; molecular mimicry; autoantibodies; immune signaling; animal models; therapeutic agents

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding: 3rd Edition

edited by

Zhiyong Li

Jian Zhang

and

Dawei Xue

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 288 | Submission Open

Keywords: gene cloning and function; genetic engineering; molecular genetics; genome editing; regulatory mechanisms; germplasm enhancement; molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)

The Immune Regulation of Osteoclasts

edited by

J. Kelly Smith

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 288 | Submission Open

Keywords: hematopoietic stem cells; osteoclasts; osteoblasts; osteocytes; stromal cells; T cells; B cells; macrophages; dendritic cells; interleukins; cytokines

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Immunology)

Enzymes Involved in Amino Acid Metabolism: Molecular Structure and Function

edited by

Barbara Cellini

and Mirco Dindo

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 284 | Submission Open

Keywords: amino acids; enzyme; human disease; protein engineering; protein dynamics

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

Obesity: Different Perspectives Based on Molecular Physiology and Pathology

edited by Hector I. Rocha-Gonzalez

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 280 | Submission Open

Keywords: obesity; rational management; perspectives; new ideas; pharmacology; lifestyle modification; molecular advances

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)

Foundational Studies Using Model Systems for Molecular Insights into Metabolism, Aging, and Disease

edited by

James T. Arnone

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 274 | Submission Open

Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae and yeasts; Caenorhabditis elegans and nematodes; Arabidopsis thaliana and plants; Drosophila melanogaster; Mus musculus; established and emerging model systems

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

Structure-Based Design of Drugs and Other Bioactive Molecules

edited by

Antonio Carrieri

submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 274 | Submission Open

Keywords: three-dimensional structure; molecular descriptor; molecular similarity; database searching; drug repositioning; target fishing; novel algorithm; data prediction

(This special issue belongs to the Section Molecular Informatics)

Statin Induced Neurotoxicity

edited by