Respiratory viruses are ubiquitous pathogens that cause infections of varying severity depending on attributes of the host and the virus itself. Data from the influenza pandemic in 2009, seasonal influenza epidemics and, more recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, underscore the importance of certain host risk factors that are associated with severe viral infections. Besides primary and iatrogenic/secondary immunosuppression that constitute well known risk factors for virtually any infection, other conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and extremes of age have been associated with high mortality and morbidity rates in respiratory viral infections.
The pathogenesis of immune dysregulation that is triggered by these host factors remains largely inexplicable. Revealing the differences and deciphering the commonalities among these conditions that render the host susceptible to severe viral infections will lead us a step closer to the development of more individualized therapeutic targets and preventative strategies. It is, therefore, vital to congregate the available evidence (including recent advances) and highlight the current research gaps in order to attest potential future therapeutic and preventative options.
The current Research Topic aims to highlight interdisciplinary research approaches that explore the role of host risk factors in the pathogenesis, progress and outcome of respiratory viral infections. Ultimately, the scope of this topic is to generate evidence on improved management and prevention of viral infections in susceptible populations, by assembling current knowledge and addressing potential gaps in research.
This Research Topic encourages the submission of any type of original research articles, method articles, protocols, systematic and narrative reviews and meta-analyses that examine the role, the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections in susceptible hosts including (but not limited to) patients with extremes of age, obesity, cardiovascular disease (and relevant cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension) asthma, COPD and other chronic pulmonary disorders, critical illness, primary or secondary immunodeficiency (including patients with cancer) and pregnant women.
Topic Editor Chrysanthi Skevaki has received funding from Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), Hycor Biomedical, Bencard Allergie and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Topic Editor Roy Chemaly has received funding from Merck, Chimerix, Shire/Takeda, Novartis, Oxford Immunotec, Ansun Biopharma, AiCuris, Xenex, Karius, Genentech, Janssen, and Viracor Eurofins.
The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Respiratory viruses are ubiquitous pathogens that cause infections of varying severity depending on attributes of the host and the virus itself. Data from the influenza pandemic in 2009, seasonal influenza epidemics and, more recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, underscore the importance of certain host risk factors that are associated with severe viral infections. Besides primary and iatrogenic/secondary immunosuppression that constitute well known risk factors for virtually any infection, other conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and extremes of age have been associated with high mortality and morbidity rates in respiratory viral infections.
The pathogenesis of immune dysregulation that is triggered by these host factors remains largely inexplicable. Revealing the differences and deciphering the commonalities among these conditions that render the host susceptible to severe viral infections will lead us a step closer to the development of more individualized therapeutic targets and preventative strategies. It is, therefore, vital to congregate the available evidence (including recent advances) and highlight the current research gaps in order to attest potential future therapeutic and preventative options.
The current Research Topic aims to highlight interdisciplinary research approaches that explore the role of host risk factors in the pathogenesis, progress and outcome of respiratory viral infections. Ultimately, the scope of this topic is to generate evidence on improved management and prevention of viral infections in susceptible populations, by assembling current knowledge and addressing potential gaps in research.
This Research Topic encourages the submission of any type of original research articles, method articles, protocols, systematic and narrative reviews and meta-analyses that examine the role, the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections in susceptible hosts including (but not limited to) patients with extremes of age, obesity, cardiovascular disease (and relevant cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension) asthma, COPD and other chronic pulmonary disorders, critical illness, primary or secondary immunodeficiency (including patients with cancer) and pregnant women.
Topic Editor Chrysanthi Skevaki has received funding from Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), Hycor Biomedical, Bencard Allergie and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Topic Editor Roy Chemaly has received funding from Merck, Chimerix, Shire/Takeda, Novartis, Oxford Immunotec, Ansun Biopharma, AiCuris, Xenex, Karius, Genentech, Janssen, and Viracor Eurofins.
The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.