Translational Research in Virology

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2697

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PanTherapeutics, Rue des Remparts 4, CH1095 Lutry, Switzerland
Interests: viral gene therapy; viral vaccines; gene expression using viral vectors; structural biology; epigenetics; nutrigenomics
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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, P. O. BOX 566, Irbid 21163, Jordan
Interests: viruses; virus-like particles (VLPs); chemical engineering; biological nanoparticles; immune therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated an unprecedented speed and a remarkable efficacy in relation to translational research for efficient vaccine and drug development. It has had a substantial impact on translational research and has provided a major boost, particularly in the field of virology. Historically, virology has faced shortcomings related to both drug and vaccine development, which have been successfully addressed by the development of novel antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. Traditionally, translational research has been described as “from bench to bedside”, highlighting the importance of all aspects of the process, including molecular and cell biology, genomics and proteomics, biotechnology, pharmacology and toxicology, and clinical research. This Special Issue provides an excellent opportunity for state-of-the-art publications in this critical and fast-moving field of research.

Dr. Kenneth Lundstrom
Prof. Dr. Alaa A. A. Aljabali
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • vaccines
  • antiviral drugs
  • monoclonal antibodies
  • viral vectors
  • self-amplifying RNA
  • clinical trials
  • translational medicine
  • proteomic analysis
  • antiviral resistance
  • bioinformatics
  • structural virology
  • immune escape mechanisms
  • viral evolution
  • diagnostic virology
  • high-throughput screening
  • nanotechnology in virology
  • viral assembly and disassembly
  • host-pathogen interactions
  • emerging viral infections

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

23 pages, 2132 KB  
Review
Hot and Cold HCC: Uncoupling Viral Oncogenesis and Therapy
by Laura Sneller, Keshav Mathur, Shyam Kottilil and Poonam Mathur
Viruses 2025, 17(9), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17091255 - 17 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising in incidence globally. It is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Infection with hepatitis B and/or C virus is a significant risk factor for developing HCC. These viruses exert their [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising in incidence globally. It is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Infection with hepatitis B and/or C virus is a significant risk factor for developing HCC. These viruses exert their carcinogenicity in both direct and indirect ways, including induction of immune exhaustion with prolonged antigen exposure. Therefore, the best therapeutic option for HCC is prevention, i.e., Hepatitis B vaccination and treatment of viral hepatitis. However, when HCC develops because of viral hepatitis or other etiologies, long-lasting effects on the immune system remain even after viral suppression, which affect the response to HCC therapy. Recent studies have suggested a “hot” and “cold” model for HCC, in which the two kinds of HCC tumors have very distinct tumor microenvironments. The microenvironment for hot HCC makes these tumors amenable to immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, converting cold HCC tumors to hot tumors may make them susceptible to immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of HCC epidemiology and prevention, an overview of tumor microenvironments of hot and cold HCC, the proposed mechanisms for converting cold tumors to hot tumors, and a concise summary of the evidence for combination checkpoint inhibitor therapy for HCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Research in Virology)
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22 pages, 498 KB  
Review
The XEC Variant: Genomic Evolution, Immune Evasion, and Public Health Implications
by Alaa A. A. Aljabali, Kenneth Lundstrom, Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić, Nawal Abd El-Baky, Debaleena Nawn, Sk. Sarif Hassan, Alberto Rubio-Casillas, Elrashdy M. Redwan and Vladimir N. Uversky
Viruses 2025, 17(7), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17070985 - 15 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1596
Abstract
Narrative review synthesizes the most current literature on the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant, focusing on its genomic evolution, immune evasion characteristics, epidemiological dynamics, and public health implications. To achieve this, we conducted a structured search of the literature of peer-reviewed articles, preprints, and official [...] Read more.
Narrative review synthesizes the most current literature on the SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant, focusing on its genomic evolution, immune evasion characteristics, epidemiological dynamics, and public health implications. To achieve this, we conducted a structured search of the literature of peer-reviewed articles, preprints, and official surveillance data from 2023 to early 2025, prioritizing virological, clinical, and immunological reports related to XEC and its parent lineages. Defined by the distinctive spike protein mutations, T22N and Q493E, XEC exhibits modest reductions in neutralization in vitro, although current evidence suggests that mRNA booster vaccines, including those targeting JN.1 and KP.2, retain cross-protective efficacy against symptomatic and severe disease. The XEC strain of SARS-CoV-2 has drawn particular attention due to its increasing prevalence in multiple regions and its potential to displace other Omicron subvariants, although direct evidence of enhanced replicative fitness is currently lacking. Preliminary analyses also indicated that glycosylation changes at the N-terminal domain enhance infectivity and immunological evasion, which is expected to underpin the increasing prevalence of XEC. The XEC variant, while still emerging, is marked by a unique recombination pattern and a set of spike protein mutations (T22N and Q493E) that collectively demonstrate increased immune evasion potential and epidemiological expansion across Europe and North America. Current evidence does not conclusively associate XEC with greater disease severity, although additional research is required to determine its clinical relevance. Key knowledge gaps include the precise role of recombination events in XEC evolution and the duration of cross-protective T-cell responses. New research priorities include genomic surveillance in undersampled regions, updated vaccine formulations against novel spike epitopes, and long-term longitudinal studies to monitor post-acute sequelae. These efforts can be augmented by computational modeling and the One Health approach, which combines human and veterinary sciences. Recent computational findings (GISAID, 2024) point to the potential of XEC for further mutations in under-surveilled reservoirs, enhancing containment challenges and risks. Addressing the potential risks associated with the XEC variant is expected to benefit from interdisciplinary coordination, particularly in regions where genomic surveillance indicates a measurable increase in prevalence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Translational Research in Virology)
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