Modulation of the immune system has become a burgeoning new horizon not only in drug discovery, but towards recent application for treatment of viral infections, including HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and their complications. Basic science research, coupled with translational application, has facilitated a growing body of data to better understand how the immune system is dysregulated during viral infections. A dysregulated immune system may not only facilitate viral replication but contribute to induction of disease in the course of viral infections. Understanding altered immune responses during viral infections may provide new therapeutic opportunities. For example, attractive strategies towards direct and indirect immunomodulatory strategies include targeting immune senescence, key pathways that drive virus-induced inflammation, modulators of the lifespan of cells harboring viruses or their autocrine and paracrine dysregulation that drives pathogenesis as well as restoration of functional CD4/8 immunity. In the context of more acute infections, it has become clear that blockade of certain inflammatory pathways may decrease tissue dysfunction and damage and enhance survival.
The Research Topic of this collection is intended to highlight the basic and applied science and clinical trials behind the idea of developing immune-based strategies of the treatment of viral infections.
We welcome the submission of Mini Reviews, Reviews, Original Research, Clinical Trial and Methods articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Mediators of inflammation as targets for the co-adjuvant treatment of viral infections.
• Clinical studies defining expression of mediators or genes associated with disease severity during viral infections and that may be amenable for novel drug development.
• Pathway mapping: elucidation of key immunological events to target viral infections using in vitro and ex vivo approaches.
o Viruses with cellular-factor immune dysregulation.
o Pathway mapping strategies to identify targets for immunomodulatory intervention across viral infections.
o Repurposed drug candidates
• “Cross-talk crossover”: Jak 1/2 inhibitors and repurposing across multiple indications:
o Jak 1/2 inhibitors: From arthritis to HIV to COVID-19: hopscotch from arthritis to efficacy in HIV human trials, to Emergency Use FDA Authorization for COVID-19.
o Insight from Jak 1/2 crossover: could other viruses be targeted beyond HIV and SARS-CoV-2?
• Platform paradigm: What can we learn from modulating the immune response for one virus that can be applied to successful targeting of other viruses?
o Common hallmarks of immune dysregulation across viruses that could be targeted.
o Cytokine storm syndrome across viruses-targeted immunomodulation versus global blocking strategies: what have we learned, where can we go next?
Modulation of the immune system has become a burgeoning new horizon not only in drug discovery, but towards recent application for treatment of viral infections, including HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and their complications. Basic science research, coupled with translational application, has facilitated a growing body of data to better understand how the immune system is dysregulated during viral infections. A dysregulated immune system may not only facilitate viral replication but contribute to induction of disease in the course of viral infections. Understanding altered immune responses during viral infections may provide new therapeutic opportunities. For example, attractive strategies towards direct and indirect immunomodulatory strategies include targeting immune senescence, key pathways that drive virus-induced inflammation, modulators of the lifespan of cells harboring viruses or their autocrine and paracrine dysregulation that drives pathogenesis as well as restoration of functional CD4/8 immunity. In the context of more acute infections, it has become clear that blockade of certain inflammatory pathways may decrease tissue dysfunction and damage and enhance survival.
The Research Topic of this collection is intended to highlight the basic and applied science and clinical trials behind the idea of developing immune-based strategies of the treatment of viral infections.
We welcome the submission of Mini Reviews, Reviews, Original Research, Clinical Trial and Methods articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Mediators of inflammation as targets for the co-adjuvant treatment of viral infections.
• Clinical studies defining expression of mediators or genes associated with disease severity during viral infections and that may be amenable for novel drug development.
• Pathway mapping: elucidation of key immunological events to target viral infections using in vitro and ex vivo approaches.
o Viruses with cellular-factor immune dysregulation.
o Pathway mapping strategies to identify targets for immunomodulatory intervention across viral infections.
o Repurposed drug candidates
• “Cross-talk crossover”: Jak 1/2 inhibitors and repurposing across multiple indications:
o Jak 1/2 inhibitors: From arthritis to HIV to COVID-19: hopscotch from arthritis to efficacy in HIV human trials, to Emergency Use FDA Authorization for COVID-19.
o Insight from Jak 1/2 crossover: could other viruses be targeted beyond HIV and SARS-CoV-2?
• Platform paradigm: What can we learn from modulating the immune response for one virus that can be applied to successful targeting of other viruses?
o Common hallmarks of immune dysregulation across viruses that could be targeted.
o Cytokine storm syndrome across viruses-targeted immunomodulation versus global blocking strategies: what have we learned, where can we go next?