About this Research Topic
The validation of therapeutic targets has become an area of increasing scientific interest in recent years. However, achieving a real validation of a biomarker to be used in clinical practice is still very challenging due to the lack of regulatory guidance and scientists in bioanalytical laboratories. Despite the availability of some vaccines and antiviral drugs, it remains challenging to treat most viral infections. Viruses are capable of developing very complex mechanisms to evade the host’s immune response, leading to viral resistance to drugs. Some studies have described the role of microbiome composition changes in the immune response to viral infections. However, the specific mechanisms of potential biomarkers related to the microbiome are not fully understood. Furthermore, despite the relevance of bacteria and associated products in specific pathologies, their use in clinical practice, on their own or in combination with available drugs, is very limited. One of the reasons for this is the lack of proper validation and/or standardized protocols. Thus, this Research Topic aims to focus on the implementation of improved validation studies that could facilitate a valid use of biomarker candidates in clinical practice.
We welcome the submission of original research, review, mini-review, and perspective articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms associated with changes in the immune response related to specific dysbiosis associated with viral infections
• Clinical studies about validation of biomarker candidates related to microbiota effect on response to viral infections
• Potential interactions and/or synergies with available drugs for viral infections of molecules identified with microbial changes.
• Standardization of protocols, validation of biomarkers, patentability, or anything that helps to achieve more unified data and actual clinically exploitable candidates from microbiome response associated with viral infections.
We welcome the submission of original research, review, mini-review, and perspective articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms associated with changes in the immune response related to specific dysbiosis associated with viral infections
• Clinical studies about validation of biomarker candidates related to microbiota effect on response to viral infections
• Potential interactions and/or synergies with available drugs for viral infections of molecules identified with microbial changes.
• Standardization of protocols, validation of biomarkers, patentability, or anything that helps to achieve more unified data and actual clinically exploitable candidates from microbiome response associated with viral infections.
Keywords: therapeutic targets, immune response, validation, microbiome, viral infection
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
