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Viruses
Special Issues
Women in Virology 2025
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Women in Virology 2025

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2025 | Viewed by 9967

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mariana Baz

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Research Center in Infectious Diseases of the CHU of Québec and Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
Interests: influenza viruses; pathogenesis and transmission; antivirals; vaccines; high-risk populations; animal models; clinical studies; emerging and re-emerging viruses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Barbara Baker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Plant Gene Expression Center, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
Interests: molecular, genetic and biochemical bases of host-microbe interactions, and investigates mechanisms of pathogen-induced host disease and disease resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Priti Kumar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Interests: drug delivery; cancer immunology; HIV; infectious diseases; internal medicine; microbial pathogenesis; microbiology; molecular virology
Dr. Ulrike Lange

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
Interests: chronic HIV infection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that we are launching this Special Issue entitled “Women in Virology 2025”, which aims to highlight the contributions of female virologists at all levels of their careers (early, middle, and advanced) around the world.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) animal, human, and plant viruses as well as those related to diagnosis, pathogenesis, transmission, pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, antivirals, vaccines, immunology, biology, molecular virology, etc.

All types of articles are welcome: short communications, original research papers, review articles as well as biographies or articles celebrating outstanding virologists who are women. Although articles where the first or senior authors are women are encouraged, submissions from all authors, irrespective of gender, will be considered.

Dr. Mariana Baz
Prof. Dr. Barbara Baker
Dr. Priti Kumar
Dr. Ulrike Lange
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.

Keywords

  • human, animal, and plant viruses
  • virus replication
  • pathogenesis
  • transmission
  • antivirals
  • antiviral resistance
  • drug discovery
  • vaccine development and evaluation
  • animal models
  • high-risk populations

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4337 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Antiviral Potential of Minocycline: Modulation of Nuclear Export of Viral Ribonuclear Proteins during Influenza Virus Infection
by Priyanka Saha, Ritubrita Saha, Ratul Datta Chaudhuri, Rakesh Sarkar, Mehuli Sarkar, Hemanta Koley and Mamta Chawla-Sarkar
Viruses 2024, 16(8), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16081317 - 18 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1801 | Correction
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a global threat worldwide causing pandemics, epidemics, and seasonal outbreaks. Annual modification of vaccines is costly due to continual shifts in circulating genotypes, leading to inadequate coverage in low- and middle-income countries like India. Additionally, IAVs are evolving [...] Read more.
Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a global threat worldwide causing pandemics, epidemics, and seasonal outbreaks. Annual modification of vaccines is costly due to continual shifts in circulating genotypes, leading to inadequate coverage in low- and middle-income countries like India. Additionally, IAVs are evolving resistance to approved antivirals, necessitating a search for alternative treatments. In this study, the antiviral role of the FDA-approved antibiotic minocycline against IAV strains was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by quantifying viral gene expression by qRT-PCR, viral protein levels by Western blotting, and viral titers. Our findings demonstrate that minocycline at a non-toxic dose effectively inhibits IAV replication, regardless of viral strain or cell line. Its antiviral mechanism operates independently of interferon signaling by targeting the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, which is crucial for the export of viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs). Minocycline prevents the assembly and release of infectious viral particles by causing the accumulation of vRNPs within the nucleus. Moreover, minocycline also inhibits IAV-induced late-stage apoptosis, further suppressing viral propagation. The antiviral activity of minocycline against IAVs could offer a promising solution amidst the challenges posed by influenza and the limitations of current treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Virology 2025)
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Review

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27 pages, 1395 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Microbial Ecology of Water in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Potential of Bacteriophages in Water Quality Monitoring and Treatment to Improve Its Safety
by Boniface Oure Obong’o, Fredrick Onyango Ogutu, Shauna Kathleen Hurley, Gertrude Maisiba Okiko and Jennifer Mahony
Viruses 2024, 16(12), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16121897 - 9 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1288
Abstract
Access to safe water and food is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa, where microbial contamination poses significant health risks. Conventional water treatment and food preservation methods have limitations in addressing water safety, particularly for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms. This review [...] Read more.
Access to safe water and food is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa, where microbial contamination poses significant health risks. Conventional water treatment and food preservation methods have limitations in addressing water safety, particularly for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms. This review explores the potential application of bacteriophages as an innovative solution for water treatment and food safety in the region. Bacteriophages specifically infect bacteria and offer a targeted approach to reducing bacterial load, including multidrug-resistant strains, without the drawbacks of chemical disinfectants. This review also highlights the advantages of phage bioremediation, including its specificity, adaptability, and minimal environmental impact. It also discusses various case studies demonstrating its efficacy in different water systems. Additionally, we underscore the need for further research and the development of region-specific phage applications to improve water quality and public health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. By integrating bacteriophage strategies into water treatment and food production, the region can address critical microbial threats, mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and advance global efforts toward ensuring safe water for all. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Virology 2025)
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17 pages, 779 KiB  
Review
Beyond Antivirals: Alternative Therapies for Long COVID
by Achilleas Livieratos, Charalambos Gogos and Karolina Akinosoglou
Viruses 2024, 16(11), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16111795 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 4455
Abstract
Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is a condition characterized by numerous lingering symptoms that persist for weeks to months following the viral illness. While treatment for PASC is still evolving, several therapeutic approaches beyond traditional antiviral therapies are being [...] Read more.
Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is a condition characterized by numerous lingering symptoms that persist for weeks to months following the viral illness. While treatment for PASC is still evolving, several therapeutic approaches beyond traditional antiviral therapies are being investigated, such as immune-modulating agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and various supportive interventions focusing at alleviating symptoms and enhancing recovery. We aimed to summarize the breadth of available evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and highlight promising non-antiviral therapies for Long COVID/PASC. We followed the framework of a scoping methodology by mapping existing evidence from a range of studies, including randomized clinical trials, observational research, and case series. Treatments evaluated include metformin, low-dose naltrexone (LDN), dexamethasone, statins, omega-3 fatty acids, L-arginine, and emerging therapies like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and therapeutic apheresis. Early findings suggest that metformin has the strongest clinical evidence, particularly from large phase 3 trials, while LDN and dexamethasone show potential based on observational studies. However, many treatments lack robust, large-scale trials. This review emphasizes the need for further research to confirm the efficacy of these treatments and guide clinical practice for Long COVID management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Virology 2025)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 445 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Saha et al. Unveiling the Antiviral Potential of Minocycline: Modulation of Nuclear Export of Viral Ribonuclear Proteins during Influenza Virus Infection. Viruses 2024, 16, 1317
by Priyanka Saha, Ritubrita Saha, Ratul Datta Chaudhuri, Rakesh Sarkar, Mehuli Sarkar, Hemanta Koley and Mamta Chawla-Sarkar
Viruses 2025, 17(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030396 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 283
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Virology 2025)
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6 pages, 652 KiB  
Brief Report
First Detection and Characterization of Smacovirus in the Human Vagina in Two Sequential Samples over a Twelve-Day Interval
by Antonio Charlys da Costa, Tania Regina Tozetto-Mendoza, Endrya do Socorro Foro Ramos, Pietro Bortoletto, Noely Evangelista Ferreira, Layla Honorato, Erick Matheus Garcia Barbosa, Heuder Gustavo Oliveira Paião, Amanda Fernandes de Souza, Iara M. Linhares, Steven D. Spandorfer, Elcio Leal, Maria Cassia Mendes-Correa and Steven S. Witkin
Viruses 2024, 16(10), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101545 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 938
Abstract
Background: Smacovirus is a CRESS-DNA virus identified almost exclusively in transient fecal samples from various vertebrate species. Objective: We evaluated human vaginal samples for the presence and maintenance of Smacovirus. Methods: Viral metagenomics analysis was performed on vaginal samples collected from 28 [...] Read more.
Background: Smacovirus is a CRESS-DNA virus identified almost exclusively in transient fecal samples from various vertebrate species. Objective: We evaluated human vaginal samples for the presence and maintenance of Smacovirus. Methods: Viral metagenomics analysis was performed on vaginal samples collected from 28 apparently healthy women in New York City, USA. Twenty-one of the women provided duplicate samples over a 12–21-day interval. Results: Phylogenetic analysis identified two samples from the same individual, collected over a twelve-day interval, that were positive for the complete Smacovirus genome. All detected sequence contigs belonged to a single variant of CRESS-DNA. Conclusions: The continuous presence of Smacovirus in the human vagina over a twelve-day period was identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women in Virology 2025)
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