Viral infectious diseases signify an essential portion of global public health concern with millions of deaths annually. Viruses produce disease directly by killing the host cells they infect or by liberating toxins that can cause tissue damage and functional derangements in neighboring or distant cells and tissues. In the field of viral immunology, the researchers continue to make noteworthy and exhilarating contributions to our understanding of the fundamental biology of the immune system. Yet the practical translational applications of this fascinating and enthralling area of science are little disappointing with regard to the recurrent viral outbreaks. The development of an infectious disease in an individual involves complex interactions between the virus and the host. These interactions are a dynamic interplay of host mechanisms aimed at eliminating infections and viral strategies designed to permit survival in the face of beneficial activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Different types of infectious viral agents stimulate distinct types of immune responses and have evolved unique mechanisms for evading immunity. Noteworthy, in many instances, virus-induced proteins produced by emerging viruses can trickily antagonize specific immune recognition mechanisms or circumvent cell intrinsic restriction factors, thus influencing the host antiviral immune responses and complicating the viral replication kinetics. However, there is little understanding of within-host immunological processes underlying the reservoir host virus interactions, and this question is hardly addressed in several emerging viral diseases. Moreover, the viral genome itself plays an imperative role in the rapid evasion of adaptive immune responses, with the generation of diverse viral quasi-species that is an inherent consequence of error-prone RNA replication mechanisms. Moreover, elite immune controllers do not eliminate the virus from their system, because of the eventual emergence of virus variants that manage to escape the determined efforts of the immune system. From serious pandemics and highly contagious infections to common influenza episodes, clinical prognosis often relies on early detection of the infectious agent. The recently developed viral diagnostic methods are reshaping the field of clinical microbiology and could contribute to reducing the prevalence of serious infectious diseases. Fortunately, the aspects of modernization that help drive pathogen emergence can also propel scientific innovation and current significant scientific advances have warranted our skill set to address the challenge of emerging viruses. From advanced genomic sequencing to novel methods in structural biology, we now have increasingly classy toolkit with which to facilitate the detection and possible control of emerging viral diseases. Still, current outbreaks of viral diseases serve as powerful reminders of our ongoing vulnerability to emerging viral pathogens. Nonetheless, a number of additional viral diseases are considered for inclusion in the priority list every year. These events underscore the need for concerted efforts to develop and implement new interventions while continuing to invest in proven pub- lic health measures.
The field of viral immunology seeks to understand the mechanisms of virus–host interaction with a view of applying this knowledge to the design of effective vac- cines to control viral infections. Whereas several viral infections are still in need of successful prophylactic vaccines, in many instances we also require therapeutic vaccines that could boost inadequate immunity. This book primarily emphasizes several areas of the field that hold substantial promise for translation, but where further work is critically required to find solutions. We emphasize that our funda- mental understanding of virus–host relationships is moving in leaps and bounds, but we lag behind in applying this knowledge to the successful control of many viral infections. Nevertheless, elucidating the nature of immune responses in individual natural hosts may inform our understanding of how virus–host equilibria are estab- lished without substantially impacting host health. Furthermore, this may provide insights into the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and immunity in humans.
We strongly believe that this book would provide enough insights into the cur- rent understanding of adaptive and innate immune response in viral diseases. This book is an attempt to compile the novel information available on recent advance- ments on various aspects of differential regulation of each immune cell during viral pathogenesis and immune evasion. This book aims to revitalize the interac- tion between fields of virology and immunology in order to advance our under- standing of dynamics of viral immune pathogenesis, as well as innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by the host. The book also elucidates a comprehensive yet representative description of a large number of challenges associated with immune sensors, namely TLRs, DNA and RNA sensors, and other immune cells during viral infections, as it is indispensable to possess updated information on emerging viral diseases. This book could be an essential reading for the novice and experts in the field of viral immunology, immune interventions, and viral immunodiagnostics, including latest developments in vaccine research. With these objectives in mind, the content of this textbook has been arranged in a logi- cal progression from fundamental to more advanced concepts. Finally, this book also outlines the most advanced immune techniques used in diagnostics of viral diseases and also primarily focuses on advancements of vaccine development research for emerging viral diseases.
We hope that this book stimulates your creativity and wish you success in your experiments. This book is a stunning reflection of the seriousness with which the several scientific minds are dedicated to the welfare of the scientific community. I am extremely thankful to the contributors for paying continuous attention to my request and showing faith in my capabilities. I shall always remain highly obliged to all of them forever. These words cannot justify the worthiness of their efforts.