Antibody-Based Therapeutics for Respiratory Diseases

Tackling respiratory diseases, including those caused by respiratory infections, is a major public health goal. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-based molecules are considered a potential therapeutic candidate against emerging viral pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria when neither vaccines or conventional drugs are available and can also be used in a range of disease settings. Monoclonal antibodies usually target highly conserved, specific antigens and can limit the development of drug resistance. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in clinical trials using mAbs to fight emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, where mAbs are likely preventing SARS-CoV-2 inflammatory-induced lung damage. This rising global trend is evidence that mAbs are a promising therapeutic option against respiratory disease. Antibody-based treatments are also advancing for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis (CF).

This Research Topic aims to explore clinical advances in the use of mAbs for targeting microorganisms that cause respiratory infections, including viruses (influenza virus, coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus) and bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis), in order to showcase new treatment options for these infections. It will also explore respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma, and CF. Topics of interest include mAb structure, function, pharmacokinetics, opportunities offered by various Ab formats, Ab engineering, and co-treatment strategies.

We are interested in Original Research, Review/Mini Review, Case Report, General Commentary, and Methods articles, focusing on but not limited to the following areas:

• Isolation and characterization of mAbs targeting novel epitopes
• Analysis of the structure and function of mAbs targeting respiratory infections
• Design and strategies to improve antibody-based therapeutics
• Nanobodies and bispecific antibodies
• mAbs affinity and function with biophysical methods or in cellular assays and in vivo studies
• Clinical development of antibody treatments of respiratory diseases, i.e., anti IL13, TSLP, IL4, IgE, IL33, IL17, TNF, IL8
• Clinical advancements of antibody-based treatments for asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis
• The market of antibody-based treatments for respiratory diseases, including viral diseases, asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis


Dr. Mark Chiu is co-founder and CSO of Tavotek Biotherapeutics, which is involved in discovering, acquiring, developing, and commercializing therapeutic medicines for serious unmet medical conditions. The other topic editors declare no competing interests with regard to the topic theme.

Keywords: monoclonal antibodies, mAbs, antibody structure and function, antibody-based therapeutics, nanobodies, bispecific antibodies, antibody engineering, respiratory infections, influenza, coronaviruses, RSV, bacterial infections, asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis

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.