Advances in Virus-Host Interactions, Viral Pathogenicity and Antiviral Drug Development

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 329

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Interests: virus-host interactions; viral pathogenicity; antiviral drug discovery and development; high throughput drug screening; viral drug resistance
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Guest Editor
Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Interests: flavivirus; mosquito transmitted virus; antiviral; vaccine; viral pathogenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Interests: HIV accessory genes; HIV-related lipid dysregulation; HIV-related mechanisms of inflammation; HIV-infected cells; anti-HIV compounds; HIV-1 translocation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Advances in Virus-Host Interactions, Viral Pathogenicity and Antiviral Drug Development”, will bring together cutting-edge research focused on understanding the complex interplay between viruses and their host organisms. The articles featured in this Special Issue will explore critical aspects of viral pathogenesis, shedding light on how viruses manipulate host cellular machinery to promote infection and evade immune responses. These insights are essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets.

A key focus of this issue is the development of antiviral drugs. As viral diseases continue to pose significant global health challenges, there is an urgent need for innovative antiviral strategies that are effective against emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Contributions in this Special Issue will showcase the latest advancements in antiviral drug discovery, emphasizing both traditional and novel approaches, including small molecules, biologics, and host-targeted therapies.

By highlighting the dynamic interactions between viruses and their hosts, as well as the promising directions in antiviral drug development, this issue provides invaluable knowledge to researchers and clinicians working to combat viral infections. Together, these studies represent a forward-looking approach to study virus–host interaction, viral pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention, with the potential to shape the future of antiviral therapies.

This Special Issue we welcomes original research and review articles that are focused on the following areas:

  • Molecular mechanisms of virus–host interactions and immune modulation;
  • Viral strategies for host cell manipulation and immune evasion;
  • Advances in viral pathogenesis across different viral families (e.g., coronaviruses, flaviviruses, and retroviruses);
  • The role of host factors in viral replication and persistence;
  • New approaches in antiviral drug discovery, including high-throughput screening and computational drug design;
  • Host-targeted therapies and their potential in viral treatment strategies;
  • Challenges in the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs;
  • Clinical and preclinical studies on antiviral therapies and their effectiveness;
  • Therapeutic strategies for emerging viral diseases;
  • The impact of viral infections on host cell signaling pathways and inflammation.

We encourage contributions that explore these topics from both basic research and translational perspectives, aimed at advancing our understanding of viral infections and developing novel antiviral therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Dr. Richard Y. Zhao
Prof. Dr. Fengwei Bai
Prof. Dr. Michael Bukrinsky
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 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. Pathogens 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

  • virus–host interactions
  • viral pathogenesis
  • antiviral drug development
  • immune evasion
  • host-targeted therapies
  • viral infections
  • therapeutic strategies
  • drug discovery
  • viral replication
  • emerging infectious diseases

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 5867 KiB  
Article
Distinct Virologic Properties of African and Epidemic Zika Virus Strains: The Role of the Envelope Protein in Viral Entry, Immune Activation, and Neuropathogenesis
by Ashkan Roozitalab, Chenyu Zhang, Jiantao Zhang, Ge Li, Chengyu Yang, Wangheng Hou, Qiyi Tang and Richard Y. Zhao
Pathogens 2025, 14(7), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14070716 - 19 Jul 2025
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Abstract
The 2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic has largely subsided, but a key question remains. How did ZIKV evolve to become a virulent human pathogen compared to the virus of its original discovery? What specific virologic and pathologic changes contributed to increased pathogenicity in [...] Read more.
The 2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic has largely subsided, but a key question remains. How did ZIKV evolve to become a virulent human pathogen compared to the virus of its original discovery? What specific virologic and pathologic changes contributed to increased pathogenicity in humans? Phylogenetic studies have identified two genetically distinct ZIKV, the African and Asian lineages, which differ in their pathogenicity. Previous studies including ours suggest that the envelope (E) protein plays a key role in viral entry, immune activation, and neuropathogenesis. This study aimed to further elucidate virologic and pathogenic differences between these lineages by assessing their ability to bind and replicate in host cells, induce apoptotic cell death, trigger inflammatory responses, and influence human neural progenitor cell (hNPC)-derived neurosphere formation. We compared a historic African ZIKV strain (MR766) with an epidemic Brazilian strain (BR15) and evaluated the effects of the E protein inhibitor quercetin-3-β-O-D-glucoside (Q3G) and an E protein-neutralizing antibody (AbII). Our results revealed distinct virologic properties and that MR766 exhibited stronger inhibition of neurosphere formation due to enhanced viral binding to neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, while BR15 infection triggered a heightened pro-inflammatory cytokine response with reduced viral binding. Chimeric virus studies suggested that the E protein likely influences viral binding, replication efficiency, immune activation, and neuropathogenesis. Notably, Q3G exhibited antiviral activities against both MR766 and BR15, whereas AbII preferentially inhibited MR766. These findings highlight the virological differences between ancestral and epidemic viral strains, as well as the critical role of E protein in viral permissiveness, immune response, and neuropathogenesis, providing insights for developing targeted antiviral strategies. Full article
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