Opportunistic Viral Infections, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "General Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 2738

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Interests: Chlamydia and Mycoplasma human infections; toxoplasmosis; opportunistic infections; sexually transmitted infections; historical medicine; migrant infections; HIV/AIDS
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For many years we have been accustomed to associating certain opportunistic viral infections with HIV/AIDS infection, the pandemic still ongoing around the world that causes thousands of new infections every day and still has a high mortality and lethality rate.

AIDS has taught us a great deal about opportunistic infections due to microorganisms that are rare or in themselves often endowed with little virulence, but which multiply to become aggressive pathogens in immunocompromised individuals as a result of infections, therapies or situations leading to immunodepression. Today, however, we must not forget other opportunistic infections that arise in people who do not have HIV/AIDS, but who have frailty because they are affected by non-infectious diseases which require lengthy treatment with anti-tumor, biotechnological and chemotherapeutic drugs in general. Among these, herpesvirus, HBV, HPV, human polyoma virus 1 (BK), JC virus and some coronaviruses are just a few examples.

In the third edition of this Special Issue, we will focus on the most recent advances in opportunistic viral infections from epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives, with special emphasis on the immunocompromised host, the frail individual, the transplanted and the individual undergoing chemotherapy or antibody-based drugs against TNF-α blockers.

Prof. Dr. Carlo Contini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • epidemiology of opportunistic viral infections
  • immunocompromised individuals (HIV/AIDS, transplants, tumors, chemotherapeutics, biotechnological drugs, etc.)
  • advances in diagnosis, management and treatment of opportunistic viral infections
  • JC virus
  • HPV
  • CMV, EBV and other herpesvirus
  • human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)
  • hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • polyomavirus
  • new Coronavirus including SARS-CoV-2
  • emerging viruses (arbovirus other zoonotic virus)

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

17 pages, 654 KB  
Review
Respiratory Viral Infection Prophylaxis and Treatment in the Transplant Population
by Adriana A. M. Giuliani, Victor Chen and Nancy Law
Viruses 2026, 18(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010008 - 20 Dec 2025
Viewed by 2312
Abstract
Transplant patients experience high morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory viral infections (RVIs). In the past decade, numerous methods of prophylaxis and treatment have rapidly developed and continue to expand, with dozens of novel agents in preclinical and clinical trials. This includes recent [...] Read more.
Transplant patients experience high morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory viral infections (RVIs). In the past decade, numerous methods of prophylaxis and treatment have rapidly developed and continue to expand, with dozens of novel agents in preclinical and clinical trials. This includes recent scientific breakthroughs in virus structure, which have enabled the creation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. While new vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and non-vaccine agents are becoming more available, their utility and safety in the transplant populations are often uncertain. This review summarizes the current landscape of RVIs in the transplant population, including approaches to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment. We discuss the data behind vaccine timing, safety, and efficacy and current pre- and post-transplant recommendations, with a particular focus on influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV. We also examine the potential benefits of antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and novel agents used as prophylaxis, treatment, or adjuncts. While there remain many knowledge gaps, these new methods and ongoing advancements in RVI treatment and prevention promise to improve transplant patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Opportunistic Viral Infections, 3rd Edition)
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