Editorial: Viral evasion mechanisms of the host response

Abstract

An essential function of the host response is to protect the organism against invading pathogens. At present, a multiplicity of mechanisms has been described on how the host sense and response to virus infections. Viruses are intracellular pathogens. Both RNA and DNA viruses have evolved mechanisms to evade host detection and to blunt both the host innate and adaptive immune responses. Considering viruses as pathogens with a relatively fast evolutionary rate, particularly RNA viruses, the result of host-virus coevolution depends on the rapid recognition and response by the host as well as on the evasion mechanism by the virus as a continuous struggle for escape/spread and immunity/clearance of virus from the host. In this Special Research Topics issue on the recent advances in Viral Evasion Mechanisms of the Host Response, we compiled a total of twelve research and review articles. The special issue includes five Original Research Articles, five Review Articles, and two Mini Review Articles. Meanwhile five articles were dedicated to viral general mechanisms, seven were specifically focused on picornavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Dengue virus (DENV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and Influenza virus (IAV). The family Picornaviridae includes some of the most important RNA viruses for human and veterinary diseases as poliovirus, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth-disease virus, which comprised pioneer studies on the structural aspects of viral components. In their minireview, Cifuente and Moratorio summarize genetic variation mechanisms used by picornaviruses on structural changes involved in binding receptor and capsid antibody evasion of enteroviruses to ensure adaptation, spread and survival. The Paramyxoviridae family includes several important human RNA virus as Measles, Mumps, and RSV.