Effects of Respiratory Viral Infections on the Nervous System

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2025 | Viewed by 5900

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Pascal, 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
Interests: polyomaviruses; neurotropic viruses; viruses and tumors; viruses and central nervous diseases; human endogenous eetroviruses; viruses in immunosuppressed hosts
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Guest Editor
Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Portugal 49, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Interests: neuroimmunology; respiratory viral infection; cognition and behavior impairment; neurotrophins and neurotransmitters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Central nervous system (CNS) infections are one of the most important public health problems because, commonly, patients remain with neurologic sequelae. Usually, CNS pathologies are caused by known neurotropic viruses such as measles and human immunodeficiency virus, among others. However, today respiratory viruses have positioned themselves as relevant causal agents of CNS pathologies. These viral agents are the leading cause of acute respiratory infections yearly, mainly affecting children and the elderly. Several reports exist describing the association of respiratory viral infections with neurological complications. The most frequent symptoms described in these patients are febrile or afebrile seizures, status epilepticus, encephalopathies, and encephalitis. Some of these viruses have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients infected with these viruses, which suggests that all these pathogens may be able to spread from the lungs and reach the CNS. However, other respiratory viruses have effects on the CNS without reaching it. After resolving the viral infection, the local immune response can remain active in both cases, contributing to long-term neuropsychiatric disorders, neurocognitive impairment, and degenerative diseases. By understanding the effects of respiratory viral infections of CNS, it is possible to develop new strategies to prevent or treat them. In this Special Issue of Microorganisms, we invite researchers to contribute original research and review articles dealing with respiratory infection of CNS, their pathological mechanisms involved in the long-term sequelae, host CNS immune responses, and therapeutic strategies to reduce patient morbidity and mortality.

Prof. Dr. Pasquale Ferrante
Dr. Karen Bohmwald
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

20 pages, 1883 KiB  
Review
Neurological Impact of Respiratory Viruses: Insights into Glial Cell Responses in the Central Nervous System
by Valentina P. Mora, Alexis M. Kalergis and Karen Bohmwald
Microorganisms 2024, 12(8), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081713 - 20 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3083
Abstract
Respiratory viral infections pose a significant public health threat, particularly in children and older adults, with high mortality rates. Some of these pathogens are the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza viruses (IV), human parvovirus B19 (B19V), and [...] Read more.
Respiratory viral infections pose a significant public health threat, particularly in children and older adults, with high mortality rates. Some of these pathogens are the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza viruses (IV), human parvovirus B19 (B19V), and human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1). These viruses cause various respiratory symptoms, including cough, fever, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Notably, these viruses can also impact the central nervous system (CNS), leading to acute manifestations such as seizures, encephalopathies, encephalitis, neurological sequelae, and long-term complications. The precise mechanisms by which these viruses affect the CNS are not fully understood. Glial cells, specifically microglia and astrocytes within the CNS, play pivotal roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and regulating immune responses. Exploring how these cells interact with viral pathogens, such as hRSV, SARS-CoV-2, IVs, B19V, and HBoV1, offers crucial insights into the significant impact of respiratory viruses on the CNS. This review article examines hRSV, SARS-CoV-2, IV, B19V, and HBoV1 interactions with microglia and astrocytes, shedding light on potential neurological consequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Respiratory Viral Infections on the Nervous System)
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21 pages, 4549 KiB  
Review
SARS-CoV-2 and Brain Health: New Challenges in the Era of the Pandemic
by Waqas Ahmed, Jia Feng, Yifan Zhang and Lukui Chen
Microorganisms 2023, 11(10), 2511; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102511 - 8 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Respiratory viral infections have been found to have a negative impact on neurological functions, potentially leading to significant neurological impairment. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has precipitated a worldwide pandemic, posing a substantial threat to human lives. Growing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may severely affect [...] Read more.
Respiratory viral infections have been found to have a negative impact on neurological functions, potentially leading to significant neurological impairment. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has precipitated a worldwide pandemic, posing a substantial threat to human lives. Growing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may severely affect the CNS and respiratory system. The current prevalence of clinical neurological issues associated with SARS-CoV-2 has raised significant concerns. However, there needs to be a more comprehensive understanding of the specific pathways by which SARS-CoV-2 enters the nervous system. Based on the available evidence, this review focuses on the clinical neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 and the possible mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 invades the brain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Respiratory Viral Infections on the Nervous System)
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