Food-Associated and Foodborne Viruses: A Food Safety Concern or Tool?
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "General Virology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
Interests: investigating the epidemiology of foodborne viruses (notably norovirus)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: viral zoonoses to develop targeted interventions that disrupt transmission chains across the food supply
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Viruses in the food system present a dual role: as significant threats to public health and as innovative tools for enhancing food safety. This Special Issue explores this dichotomy through cutting-edge research and reviews. On the one hand, foodborne viruses (e.g., norovirus, hepatitis A, and rotavirus) cause substantial global disease burdens, with norovirus alone infecting millions annually and showing high detection rates across all age groups. Emerging zoonotic viruses, like highly pathogenic strains of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), further highlight transmission risks at the animal–human interface, where genetic mutations enable immune evasion and increased virulence. On the other hand, viruses such as bacteriophages are leveraged as biocontrol agents against bacterial pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria), while plant-derived antiviral phytochemicals (e.g., quercetin, resveratrol) offer natural solutions to combat viral contamination in foods. Advanced detection technologies, including click chemistry-based biosensors, enable rapid, on-site identification of viral hazards, revolutionizing food safety monitoring.
This issue also examines the potential of food-grade viral vectors for vaccine delivery and the use of viral components in sustainable packaging. By dissecting both threats and applications, we aim to foster a holistic One Health approach, balancing risk mitigation with technological innovation to transform food-associated viruses from concerns into solutions.
Dr. Ningbo Liao
Dr. Daofeng Liu
Dr. Hao Yan
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- foodborne viruses
- norovirus epidemiology
- viral zoonoses
- phage biocontrol
- food viromics
- virus detection technologies
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