Next-generation antivirals and vaccines: Integrating pathogenesis, therapeutics, and immune modulation for emerging viral threats

Emerging and re-emerging viral threats continue to pose critical challenges to global health security. Despite substantial advances in our understanding of viral genomics and pathogenesis, recent outbreaks such as those caused by Zika, Dengue, and SARS-CoV-2 have highlighted the pressing need for innovative approaches in antiviral drug discovery and vaccine development. Key questions remain regarding the identification of robust therapeutic targets, the mechanisms underlying viral manipulation of host immunity, and how acute viral infections can modulate susceptibility to other, often chronic, human diseases. Ongoing debates center on the optimal design of broad-spectrum therapeutics, the durability of vaccine-induced protection, and the intricate interplay between viruses and the host immune landscape. Notably, recent studies have revealed new molecular insights into viral pathogenesis and highlighted host factors such as the inflammasome as central mediators of disease severity, yet translating these findings into clinically effective interventions has proven elusive. The field lacks a unified strategy that integrates advances in both antiviral and vaccine research with nuanced understanding of host-pathogen interactions, particularly in the context of co-morbidities and altered disease susceptibilities.This Research Topic aims to accelerate the identification and translation of next-generation antiviral drugs and vaccine strategies by synthesizing recent discoveries in viral pathogenesis, host immune modulation, and therapeutic engineering. The objective is to foster an integrated research environment that bridges basic, translational, and clinical studies, elucidates the mechanisms that govern both viral replication and immune response, and ultimately informs the rational design of broad-spectrum preventive and therapeutic platforms. Central to this aim is the drive to generate actionable translational pipelines linking molecular targets, host-pathogen dynamics, and innovative vaccine technologies to address both present and future viral pandemics.This Research Topic focuses on original research and comprehensive reviews addressing molecular, immunological, and translational aspects of emerging viral diseases, but does not consider non-viral chronic disease mechanisms outside the context of viral interaction. To gather further insights in preventing and treating current and future viral outbreaks, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Identification and validation of novel molecular targets for antiviral therapeuticso Development and assessment of next-generation vaccine platforms (e.g., mRNA, viral vectors, protein subunits)o Mechanistic studies on viral manipulation of host pathways such as the inflammasome and complement systemo Research on host-directed therapies aimed at mitigating disease severityo Studies examining how viral infections alter host susceptibility and outcomes in other acute or chronic human diseaseso Strategies to overcome antiviral drug resistance and improve vaccine durabilityAppendix: We encourage diverse submission types including original research, reviews, perspectives, methods, and case studies relevant to the outlined themes. Topic editors: Uma Shankar, Dr. Subodh Kumar Mishra, Anuradha Kalani, Ritudhwaj Tiwari Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77088/next-generation-antivirals-and-vaccines-integrating-pathogenesis-therapeutics-and-immune-modulation-for-emerging-viral-threats