Immunotoxins: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Immunotoxins can be of animal, plant, bacterial, viral, or other origin. These molecules are the result of a genetic or biochemical manipulation (chimera) that involves the binding of antibodies (whole or smaller segments) to a naturally toxic substance. Immunotoxins have the function of binding to receptors on the surface of target cells and exerting their deadly or therapeutic biological effect. One of the main applications of immunotoxins is in oncology. Cancer cells frequently upregulate surface receptors that promote growth and survival. These receptors constitute valid targets for intervention. One therapeutic strategy involves the delivery of toxic payloads to kill the cancer cells with high receptor levels. Delivery can be accomplished by attaching a toxic load to either a receptor-binding antibody or a receptor-binding ligand. Generally, the cell-binding domain of the toxin is replaced with a ligand or antibody that dictates a new binding specificity. The advantage of this "immunotoxin" approach lies in the potency of these chimeric molecules for killing cancer cells. However, receptor expression on normal tissue represents a significant obstacle to therapeutic intervention. 

We are pleased to invite you to submit your work to “Immunotoxins: Current Status and Future Perspectives” that I am organizing in the journal Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651, IF 4.546). This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for toxicologists, molecular pharmacologists, molecular immunologists, life science researchers, doctors, clinicians, researchers, and other professionals to understand the recent advancements and challenges in immunotoxins research. Suggested themes and article types for submissions include antibody–toxin conjugates; monoclonal antibodies; epitope target identification; antibody–drug conjugates; immunoliposomes; therapeutic use; drug targeting; targeted therapy; construction of molecules; delivery; mechanism of action and resistance; clinical application; cancer (pancreatic adenocarcinoma, liver cancer; hairy cell leukemia and others); as well as cholera toxin, dianthin, trichosanthin, and mesothelin. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to): cancer; COVID-19; animal venoms; bacterial toxins; marine and freshwater toxins; mycotoxins; plant toxins; uremic toxins; chimeric molecules; antibodies; and others.

We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Salvatore Giovanni De Simone
Guest Editor

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