The field of antiviral drug discovery for emerging respiratory viruses, such as coronaviruses, influenza viruses, and metapneumoviruses, is rapidly advancing due to the continuous threat posed by newly evolving pathogens. Despite remarkable progress, current treatment regimens often struggle to keep pace with the adaptability and structural diversity of these viruses. Central questions remain about how best to exploit the unique aspects of viral structure, in addition to viral proteins, to design more effective therapeutic agents. Recent research underscores the value of high-resolution structural studies, which have unveiled detailed architectures of viral proteins and complexes, thus providing unprecedented opportunities for rational therapeutic design. However, knowledge gaps persist regarding the stability, conformational flexibility, and functional roles of different viral structural components, especially as they relate to pathogenesis and drug resistance. The need to bridge virology with structural biology has become increasingly apparent, particularly in elucidating which viral features serve as the most promising therapeutic targets and how these targets may be exploited for broad-spectrum interventions.
This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of how novel therapeutics can be engineered to target both structural elements and unique proteins of emerging respiratory viruses. Specifically, it seeks to foster research that identifies and characterizes key viral structures, assesses the therapeutic potential of agents designed to interact with those structures, and balances this knowledge with an exploration of the mechanisms conferring resistance or enhancing efficacy. By encouraging studies that integrate structural and functional virology with translational research, this Topic aspires to answer crucial questions about therapeutic innovation and to define new paradigms for the treatment of respiratory viral infections.
To gather further insights within the boundaries of structure-driven antiviral research, we welcome submissions focused on innovative strategies and therapeutics tailored for emerging respiratory viruses. Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
Structural elucidation of viral proteins and components as therapeutic targets in emerging respiratory viruses Identification and characterization of unique viral protein and structural targets Structure-based rational design and optimization of small molecule inhibitors and biologics Preclinical and clinical evaluation of new agents targeting viral structure and function Mechanisms of action, resistance, and viral escape linked to structural features Integrated approaches combining antiviral agents and immune modulators for improved outcomes
We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address the full spectrum of conceptualization, development, and implementation of novel, structure-aware therapeutic strategies for emerging respiratory viruses.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
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:
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.
