About this Research Topic

Background

Most respiratory viruses are characterized by high transmissibility, a short incubation period, and mucosal involvement, which makes them less susceptible to the systemic immune response. For these reasons, development of effective countermeasures is often challenging, as exemplified by the current pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Respiratory viruses, such as influenza A and B viruses (IAV, IBV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people worldwide, especially in young children and the elderly. Additionally, other respiratory viruses such as hantaviruses can lead to a severe, fatal respiratory disease in humans. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the biology of these viruses in both humans and animals with relevance to human health, to develop more effective mitigating strategies, such as novel vaccine platforms, antiviral compounds, and antibody-based therapies.

This Research Topic aims to provide a wide view of the pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, and immune response in the context of infection caused by different respiratory viruses affecting humans and animal species, relevant to human health. Furthermore, it aims to provide information about the development of new vaccines and antiviral therapeutics against these respiratory viruses, and the evaluations of these in vitro and different animal models.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, and brief research reports focusing on respiratory viruses relevant to human health and infection. Specific topics of interest include:

1. Pathogenesis of respiratory viruses and host response
2. Development of new vaccines against respiratory viruses
3. Safety and efficacy of novel vaccines against respiratory viruses in animal models or human trials
4. Development or repurposing of antiviral compounds, including antibody therapy, and assessment of their efficacy in vitro, animal models, or human trials

Submissions focused on viral pathogenesis should be submitted via the journals Virus and Host specialty section, and submissions focused on vaccines and antiviral therapies should be submitted via the journals Clinical Microbiology section.

Keywords: Vaccines, Antivirals, Pathogenesis, Replication, Immune Response, Host Response, Influenza, RSV, Sars, Coronavirus, Respiratory Infections

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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