RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional regulation, orchestrating various aspects of RNA metabolism such as splicing, transport, stability, and translation. While their contributions to cellular homeostasis are well-documented, their involvement in host-pathogen interactions, especially in viral infections, is a burgeoning area of research. Viruses, particularly RNA viruses like influenza, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2, have intricate dependencies on host RBPs, leveraging these proteins to ensure viral replication, evade immune detection, and manipulate host cell machinery. RBPs thus serve dual roles: defenders against and facilitators of viral pathogenesis. Despite progress in revealing individual RBP-virus interactions, the overarching influence of RBPs on viral infections remains partially explored. Novel methodologies such as cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (CLIP-seq) and CRISPR-based screens expand our understanding of these interactions, exposing unknown facets of viral tropism and immune evasion.

This Research Topic aims to unearth RNA-binding proteins' intricate roles in viral pathogenesis, focusing on the mechanistic pathways co-opted by viruses. By merging insights from molecular virology, structural biology, and systems biology, this initiative seeks to delineate the interactions between viral elements and host RBPs across various viral taxa. Key goals include understanding how RBPs modulate viral replication, govern immune responses, and affect tissue-specific viral targeting. The research explores how viruses strategically bypass RBP-mediated defenses or repurpose these proteins to their advantage. A significant objective is pinpointing RBPs as essential host factors in viral proliferation, presenting innovative therapeutic targets. This initiative fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to convert fundamental RBP biological insights into practical diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral applications.

The scope of this Research Topic encompasses a breadth of scales, from molecular mechanisms to translational applications, investigating RBP-virus interactions in diverse settings, including model organisms, clinical scenarios, and zoonotic reservoirs. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on nascent topics like RBPs in viral replication organelles or the involvement of circular RNA-binding proteins in immune modulation.

We also encourage submissions on therapeutic developments, RBP-targeted antiviral approaches, and computational studies using AI or single-cell technologies. The ecological and evolutionary implications of RBPs in viral transmission and adaptation will also be examined. We aim to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of RBPs, from characterizing well-studied viruses like Zika and hepatitis C to addressing emergent viral threats, ultimately contributing to enhanced antiviral strategies and understanding host-virus dynamics.

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Understanding the dual role of RNA-binding proteins in viral defense and propagation