Natural products modulating antiviral immune responses and infection-induced neuroinflammation

The interface between antiviral immune responses and neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of disease severity and recovery. Neurotropic and respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, adenoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus, can activate microglia and astrocytes, disrupt the blood–brain barrier, and induce systemic and central inflammatory responses associated with neurological complications. At the same time, innate immune pathways, including interferon signaling, inflammasome activation, cholinergic anti-inflammatory circuits, and GPCR-mediated regulation of myeloid cells, shape the resolution of inflammation. Recent studies indicate that natural products and their derivatives, including flavonoids, xanthones, terpenoids, and alkaloids, may modulate immune signaling, macrophage polarization, and virus-induced neuroinflammation. However, the molecular targets, immunomodulatory mechanisms, pharmacological selectivity, and translational potential of many of these compounds remain insufficiently defined.This Research Topic aims to examine how plant-, marine-, and microbe-derived natural products regulate immune responses to viral infection and infection-induced neuroinflammation. It will address how natural compounds influence interferon responses, inflammatory signaling, and the activation or reprogramming of monocytes, macrophages, microglia, and other relevant immune or neural cells. Particular emphasis will be placed on clarifying the molecular mechanisms and targets responsible for immune-mediated antiviral defense and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as on identifying structure–activity relationships that can support the development of more selective immunomodulatory interventions. Recent advances in chemical proteomics, proximity labeling, DNA-encoded library screening, structural biology, and multi-omics analysis provide new opportunities for target deconvolution and mechanism-based investigation of host immune pathways. By integrating pharmacological characterization, immunological and neuroimmunological assays, and preclinical disease models, this Research Topic seeks to strengthen the evidence base for natural products as modulators of the host immune response and potential interventions for virus-associated neuroinflammatory complications.This Research Topic will focus on natural products and derivatives studied in the context of host immune and inflammatory responses to viral infection, or infection-induced neuroinflammation. Studies addressing the mechanisms of viral infection itself (e.g., viral replication, entry, or immune evasion) are outside the primary scope; non-infectious neuroinflammation or general immunomodulation unrelated to viral infection are also outside the primary scope. We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, and Perspective articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Natural products that regulate virus-induced inflammatory and immune signaling• Molecular mechanisms by which natural compounds modulate interferon responses, pattern-recognition receptor signaling, inflammasomes, and other antiviral pathways• Neuroimmune consequences of respiratory and neurotropic viral infections, including microglial, astrocytic, macrophage, and blood–brain barrier responses• Natural product regulation of monocyte, macrophage, and microglial activation during virus-associated CNS inflammation• Lung–brain and gut–brain axis interactions in the context of respiratory viral infection and host immune responses• Natural product modulation of systemic and neuroinflammatory cytokine/chemokine networks following viral infection• Preclinical evaluation, delivery strategies, safety, bioavailability, and translational challenges of natural immunomodulators in viral disease modelsStudies integrating immunological, neuroimmunological, and preclinical approaches are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Jianrong Xu, Siau Hui Mah, Apeng Chen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84784/natural-products-modulating-antiviral-immune-responses-and-infection-induced-neuroinflammation