Nonstandard Viral Genomes
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "General Virology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 152
Special Issue Editors
Interests: emerging and zoonotic high-consequence viruses; vaccine and antibody development; virus–host interactions; molecular and translational virology; animal modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: emerging and zoonotic high-consequence viruses; vaccine and antibody development; virus–host interactions; molecular and translational virology; animal modeling; antiviral immunity; viral entry mechanisms; quantitative viral imaging; functional genomics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nonstandard viral genomes include incomplete or rearranged viral RNA or DNA molecules that arise during viral replication. Although they cannot replicate independently, nonstandard viral genomes can strongly influence infection outcomes by interacting with standard viruses and host responses. They have been identified in many RNA and DNA viruses, including high-consequence viruses, and are increasingly recognized as important regulators of viral replication, immune activation, and pathogenesis.
Recent studies have shown that nonstandard viral genomes can interfere with the replication of full-length viruses, shape viral population dynamics, and enhance innate immune signaling. Their accumulation may contribute to viral persistence, attenuation, or altered disease severity. Advances in sequencing technologies and experimental models are now allowing more precise detection, classification, and functional analysis of nonstandard viral genomes across different virus families and host systems. These developments are improving our understanding of how these genomes form, persist, and influence virus–host interactions and even how they may be used as therapeutic agents.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and methodological studies that address any aspect of nonstandard viral genomes. Topics of interest include mechanisms of generation, structural and functional diversity, roles in immune modulation and viral evolution, implications for vaccine and antiviral development, and studies using animal models or translational approaches. The aim is to highlight the biological significance and therapeutic potential of defective viral genomes in virology.
Prof. Dr. Anthony Griffiths
Dr. Daniela Silva Ayala
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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.
Keywords
- nonstandard viral genomes
- viral replication
- viral evolution
- competition
- virus–host interactions
- innate immunity
- viral interference
- genome rearrangements
- pathogenesis
- antiviral strategies
- viral diversity
- emerging viruses
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