Structural Biology of Bacteriophages

Dear Colleagues,

Bacteriophages (phages) are now recognized as promising therapeutic agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, emphasizing the importance of their structural biology in elucidating their mechanisms of action. This Special Issue aims to delve into the intricate structures of phages and their interactions with host bacteria, covering various stages of the infection cycle, such as phage capsid assembly, genome packaging/delivery, host receptor binding, antiphage host defense systems, and the host’s lysis. Leveraging modern molecular biology and genomics, which have unveiled the immense diversity of phages, this collection underscores their potential as natural antimicrobials. Recent advances in phage therapy for multidrug-resistant infections highlight the critical need to understand phage structures and their host interactions for developing effective treatments. By assembling cutting-edge research on the structural biology of bacteriophages, this Special Issue illuminates their pivotal role in controlling bacterial populations and their therapeutic potential.

Dr. Junjie Zhang
Dr. Bo Hu
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. Viruses 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 2600 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.

• phage assembly
• phage host recognition
• host defense against phages
• phage genome delivery
• phage lysis
• genome packaging
• host receptors