Guest Editors
Natasha Marques Cassani
Federal University of Uberlandia
Natasha is a PhD researcher and master's in virology with a background in antiviral screening, in vitro infection models, and assay development for emerging and neglected viral pathogens, especially arboviruses. Her research focuses on the design and optimization of cell-based platforms to evaluate antiviral activity, including reporter virus systems, cytotoxicity assessment workflows, and replication-based readouts.She has experience working with multiple viral systems and mammalian cell culture models for improving experimental reproducibility and translational relevance in preclinical antiviral research. Her broader research interests include host-virus interactions, assay standardization, and methodological innovation to accelerate antiviral discovery. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, she aims to contribute to the development of robust experimental frameworks that support reliable and reproducible virology research.
Igor Andrade Santos
The Pirbright Institute
Dr. Igor Andrade Santos is a researcher at The Pirbright Institute, with expertise in virology and experimental models for the study of coronaviruses relevant to animal and zoonotic health. His research interests focus on virus-host interactions, viral replication mechanisms, and the development of in vitro platforms to investigate viral infection dynamics.He has experience working with cell culture-based infection systems and molecular virology approaches, with an emphasis on generating robust experimental data that support translational and comparative virology research. Dr. Santos is particularly interested in methodological rigor, assay optimization, and experimental reproducibility, contributing to improved experimental frameworks for studying viral diseases of global relevance. Through collaborative research, he aims to advance understanding of viral pathogenesis and support the development of improved antiviral and control strategies.
Victoria Riquena Grosche
University of Leeds
Dr. Victoria Riquena Grosche is a researcher at the University of Leeds with a background in virology and molecular infection biology. Her research interests include viral replication, host-virus interactions, and the use of in vitro experimental models to investigate mechanisms of Hepatitis C virus infection and antiviral responses.She has experience applying cell-based assays and molecular techniques to study viral systems, with a particular interest in experimental reproducibility and methodological standardization. Her work aims to bridge fundamental virology with applied research, supporting the development of robust experimental platforms for antiviral evaluation and translational studies. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, she contributes to advancing methodological innovation and strengthening experimental approaches in modern virology research.
Collection Overview
The development of effective antiviral therapies relies heavily on robust experimental platforms that accurately model viral infection and host responses. However, variability in assay design, cell models, and readout strategies continues to challenge reproducibility and translational relevance across laboratories. This Topical Collection addresses the growing need for standardized, transparent, and scalable in vitro approaches for antiviral screening and infection modeling.
The aim of this collection is to showcase modern experimental methodologies, including reporter virus systems, high-content imaging assays, cytotoxicity and selectivity index workflows, time-of-addition experiments, and advanced cell culture models such as co-cultures and organoid-based platforms. By providing detailed, visualized protocols, the collection will support researchers in implementing reproducible and validated workflows while reducing technical barriers for laboratories establishing antiviral screening pipelines.
This collection will serve as a practical resource for both early-career and established researchers working in virology, drug discovery, and translational research. By promoting methodological rigor and cross-laboratory comparability, it aims to accelerate antiviral discovery efforts and improve the reliability of preclinical antiviral evaluation.
Articles
Abstracts
In-Vitro assessment: The mistletoe of Dendropthoe pentandra L Miq as a anti-virus Infectious-Laryngo Trachetis
Lazuardi Mochamad*1
1Universitas Airlangga