Immune Responses to RNA viruses
1Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
2Montreal University, Montreal, Canada
3Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
4Paris-Sud University, Paris, France
Immune Responses to RNA viruses
Description
RNA viruses represent a major threat to human health around the globe. Many of these viruses are pandemic and can infect hundreds of millions worldwide causing the death of millions of people every year. RNA viruses, which are known for their pandemic and/or lethal impact, include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), Ebola virus, Zika virus, influenza viruses, yellow fever virus, dengue virus, rhinoviruses (common cold), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I), polio, and measles. There is currently no vaccine for many of these viruses and some of the available vaccines are not highly effective. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms of the immune responses against these viruses to be able to develop effective vaccines and optimal treatments. Studying the immune responses to RNA viruses with available vaccines as well as the results of vaccine trials will help understand the correlates and parameters that should be considered when designing new vaccines. Hence, it is important to deeply understand the adaptive and the innate immune responses as well as the interaction between them in the context of infections with RNA viruses to reach fruitful conclusions.
The aim of this special issue is to publish contributions in the form of research articles and reviews that address the innate and adaptive immune responses to RNA viruses as well as vaccination strategies against these viruses.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Immune responses to an RNA virus mediate by
- T and B cells
- γδ T, NKT, and NK cells
- Monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cells
- Cytokines and chemokines
- Antibodies and complement
- Host factors and intracellular molecules in target cells
- Molecules and mechanisms that shape immune responses to an RNA virus such as
- Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs)
- Immunomodulatory molecules
- Apoptosis and autophagy
- Inflammation
- Immune evasion
- Coinfection with other pathogens
- Vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies designed against an RNA virus
- Autoimmune diseases related to RNA viruses