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

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
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.

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