Effective Therapeutic Strategies, including Treatments, Vaccines, and Immunotherapies, for Combating Zoonotic Viruses and Improving Global Health Outcomes

Viral infections caused by zoonotic pathogens exhibit a wide range of symptoms and varying degrees of severity, presenting a significant challenge to global public health. These diseases not only exert substantial pressure on healthcare systems but also underscore the urgent need for effective prevention and treatment strategies, particularly in the context of human-animal transmission. Zoonotic pathogens can spread from animals to humans through various transmission routes such as direct contact, airborne particles, or contaminated food and water, adding complexity to managing outbreaks. Vaccination has been one of the greatest successes in medical history, playing a crucial role in reducing morbidity and mortality during outbreaks. However, as zoonotic pathogens continue to evolve, understanding the infection mechanisms and developing additional treatment options—such as antiviral therapies and specific immunotherapies like monoclonal antibodies and T-cell-based therapies—are increasingly vital. While immunotherapies in zoonoses remain in early stages, the ongoing research into these treatments holds significant potential for complementing traditional vaccines and antivirals. Addressing the global threat of zoonotic diseases requires a comprehensive approach that integrates vaccines, targeted therapies, and robust public health measures, ensuring improved health outcomes and better preparedness for emerging infectious threats.

This research topic focuses on the latest findings related to infectious diseases caused by zoonotic pathogens, including infection mechanisms, vaccination strategies, microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, and the development of antiviral therapies and immunotherapies. It particularly highlights the dynamic nature of zoonotic pathogens, such as influenza, dengue virus, chikungunya virus and coronaviruses, and their potential to cause significant outbreaks. The emerging potential for zoonotic diseases to cause endemics and pandemics, such as the current avian influenza outbreak and the spread of coronaviruses from animals to humans, underscores the importance of advancing both prevention and treatment strategies. The aim is to identify effective approaches to address varying disease severities, reduce the global health burden, and strengthen healthcare systems to combat both existing and emerging zoonotic infectious disease threats. The proposed research is crucial for advancing global public health responses, optimizing therapeutic interventions, and ensuring better preparedness for future infectious disease challenges.

This research topic focuses on recent advancements in infectious diseases caused by zoonotic pathogens, highlighting their dynamic nature, including influenza, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and COVID-19. We invite submissions of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, hypotheses, and opinion articles on the following areas:
- Infection Mechanisms and Pathogenesis: Study of zoonotic pathogen behavior, evolution, transmission routes (e.g., direct contact, airborne particles, contaminated food or water), and pathogenesis during outbreaks.
- Vaccination and Antiviral Strategies: Exploration of vaccination and antiviral approaches to combat evolving zoonotic pathogens, with a focus on prevention and treatment.
- Immunotherapies: Investigation into emerging immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies and T-cell-based therapies, to complement traditional prevention and treatment methods.
- Host-Microbe Interactions: Analysis of how host (human and animal) and pathogen interactions affect disease transmission, severity, and outcomes, with an emphasis on host immune responses.
- Epidemiological investigation: Examination of specific zoonotic pathogens like influenza, dengue virus, chikungunya virus and coronaviruses, their transmission from animals to humans, and their potential to cause pandemics or endemics.
- Prevention and Treatment Strategies: Evaluation of strategies to prevent and treat zoonotic diseases, addressing mild to severe outbreaks, and focusing on vaccine and antiviral development.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Infectious Disease Management, Vaccine Development, Immunotherapy, Antimicrobial Resistance, Global Health Interventions

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.