Herpetic diseases such as herpetic encephalitis, genital herpes and herpetic ophthalmopathy, caused by the infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV), have plagued humans for thousands of years. Among them, HSV is the most common pathogen causing herpetic diseases, which could evade host defenses and cause lifelong infections. HSV initially infects host tissues through mucous membranes or damaged skin. After primary infection, HSV infects sensory neurons via interactions with cell surface glycosaminoglycans and cell adhesion molecules, and travels to the neuronal cell body in the dorsal root ganglion via fast retrograde axonal transport. However, the mechanisms by which HSV gains access to the central nervous system (CNS) in humans are unclear, and the pathogenesis of HSV in herpetic diseases remains to be fully elucidated. Despite the success of approved antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, drug resistance and side effects remain unresolved issues in the fight against HSV infections. Hence, it is important to study the virus-host interaction as well as viral pathogenesis, with the aim of developing novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of herpetic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and advanced publication platform for studies concerning the pathogenesis, the pathogenic viral factors, and key molecular events that mediate herpetic disease progression, as well as the novel treatment strategies of herpetic diseases. In particular, we highly appreciate research articles dealing with virus endocytosis, fusion mechanism, viral tropism and transmission, viral-host interaction, the mechanism of immune evasion and drug resistance, as well as the mechanisms of latent infection and viral clearance. This Research Topic will also publish original research articles that highlight the molecular mechanisms of the prevention and treatment of herpes virus infections with novel vaccines and antiviral agents. We also welcome articles that describe the recent progress in research on the anti-HSV agents in clinical trials, relating to their pharmacodynamics and clinical applications.
Specifically, perspectives focusing on the pathogenic mechanisms of herpes virus as well as the strategies for antiviral agents against herpes virus, including but not limited to the following, are highly welcome:
1) The pathogenic mechanism that mediates herpetic disease progression
2) The infection mechanisms for herpes virus including virus endocytosis, fusion, and transmission
3) The mechanisms of viral-host interaction including immune evasion and latent infection
4) The development of novel vaccines for herpes virus infection
5) The antiviral mechanisms of novel agents for herpetic diseases
6) The recent advances in the pharmacodynamics and clinical applications of anti-HSV agents
The Research Topic welcomes submissions of the following article types: Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Brief Research Report, Case Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Opinion, and Perspective.
Herpetic diseases such as herpetic encephalitis, genital herpes and herpetic ophthalmopathy, caused by the infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV), have plagued humans for thousands of years. Among them, HSV is the most common pathogen causing herpetic diseases, which could evade host defenses and cause lifelong infections. HSV initially infects host tissues through mucous membranes or damaged skin. After primary infection, HSV infects sensory neurons via interactions with cell surface glycosaminoglycans and cell adhesion molecules, and travels to the neuronal cell body in the dorsal root ganglion via fast retrograde axonal transport. However, the mechanisms by which HSV gains access to the central nervous system (CNS) in humans are unclear, and the pathogenesis of HSV in herpetic diseases remains to be fully elucidated. Despite the success of approved antiviral drugs such as acyclovir, drug resistance and side effects remain unresolved issues in the fight against HSV infections. Hence, it is important to study the virus-host interaction as well as viral pathogenesis, with the aim of developing novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of herpetic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and advanced publication platform for studies concerning the pathogenesis, the pathogenic viral factors, and key molecular events that mediate herpetic disease progression, as well as the novel treatment strategies of herpetic diseases. In particular, we highly appreciate research articles dealing with virus endocytosis, fusion mechanism, viral tropism and transmission, viral-host interaction, the mechanism of immune evasion and drug resistance, as well as the mechanisms of latent infection and viral clearance. This Research Topic will also publish original research articles that highlight the molecular mechanisms of the prevention and treatment of herpes virus infections with novel vaccines and antiviral agents. We also welcome articles that describe the recent progress in research on the anti-HSV agents in clinical trials, relating to their pharmacodynamics and clinical applications.
Specifically, perspectives focusing on the pathogenic mechanisms of herpes virus as well as the strategies for antiviral agents against herpes virus, including but not limited to the following, are highly welcome:
1) The pathogenic mechanism that mediates herpetic disease progression
2) The infection mechanisms for herpes virus including virus endocytosis, fusion, and transmission
3) The mechanisms of viral-host interaction including immune evasion and latent infection
4) The development of novel vaccines for herpes virus infection
5) The antiviral mechanisms of novel agents for herpetic diseases
6) The recent advances in the pharmacodynamics and clinical applications of anti-HSV agents
The Research Topic welcomes submissions of the following article types: Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Brief Research Report, Case Report, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Opinion, and Perspective.
