SARS-CoV-2: From Virus Replication Cycle to Antiviral Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

SARS-CoV-2 has already infected 263 million people and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 5 million people worldwide. To prevent further deaths and minimize the socio-economic burden, the global population must be vaccinated and acquire herd immunity. However, it needs to be highlighted that vaccine effectiveness and protection can be low in some groups (i.e., ‘vaccine non-responders’, immunocompromised patients), and these people can develop severe COVID-19. Moreover, considering the relatively low proportion of vaccinated people, there is a risk of the emergence of new potential vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 strains. Therefore, in addition to vaccination, efficient drugs for COVID-19 treatment need to be developed.

Knowledge of the viral replication cycle and virus–host interaction is key to developing novel antivirals. Thus, this Pathogens Special Issue will focus on SARS-CoV-2 biology, including virus entry, replication, assembly and release, as well as SARS-CoV-2–host cell interactions, and potential implications for the development of novel antiviral strategies.

Dr. Pawel Zmora
Guest Editor

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