Host Cell-Virus Interaction, 3rd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Activation of immune responses is the key factor for host defense against any viral infections. Yet, viruses have also adapted several strategies to escape or suppress host resistance to make a proviral environment using the cellular machineries that represent the most important components of viral pathogenicity. As an obligate parasite, viruses are eventually reliant on the host cellular components for their replication via altering the cellular signal transduction pathways and immune evasion mechanisms, including escaping recognition from intracellular sensors, suppression of IFN-α/β production, NF-kappaB, dysregulation of inflammatory responses and inflammasome activation signals, RNA interference, modulation of autophagy and programmed cell-death mechanisms, and selection of genetic variants that escape from neutralizing antibodies.

Significant research on antivirals to combat viral infections is an extensive process, which requires multidisciplinary approaches. For any antiviral agents, such as synthetic drugs, chemical inhibitors, RNAi strategies of miRNAs or siRNAs, natural compounds, phytoconstituents, herbal or Ayurvedic formulations, and metallic nanoparticles, apparently there are two different strategies of antiviral drug discovery available, which are based on targeting the viral lifecycle and/or directing the host cellular factors. The modus operandi of antivirals characterization is fundamental for identification, prediction and understanding side-effects, drug interactions and the emergence of resistance, for increasing the spectrum of activity, and for improving antiviral efficacy.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research papers, communications and review articles that contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular details of host cell–virus interaction through viral immune evasion and host defense mechanism during any viral infection. Furthermore, understanding the mechanism of action of host-centric and/or targeting viral lifecycle antivirals could further refine our understanding of virus–host interactions and the antiviral strategies for treatment and prophylaxis, which are essential to managing any active viral infections. Hence, we invite all researchers working in the field of viral lifecycle, pathogenesis, host responses and antiviral development to submit their research to this Special Issue to highlight recent advancements and further the discussion on host–virus interactions and prospective therapeutics.

Dr. Parikshit Bagchi
Dr. Anupam Mukherjee
Guest Editors

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