Antiviral Research

A journal for research on the prevention and treatment of viral diseases
An Official Publication of the International Society for Antiviral Research

Antiviral Research publishes research reports, short communications, review articles and commentaries on the control of viral infections in humans and animals. Its scope encompasses:

antiviral drugs, antibodies and host-response modifiers, including their synthesis, in vitro and in vivo testing and mechanisms of action.

new or improved vaccines against viral infections of humans;

assessments of drug and vaccine safety;

evolution of drug- or vaccine-resistant viruses and the development of effective countermeasures;

identification and validation of new drug targets;

laboratory animal models of viral diseases;

pathogenesis of viral diseases and mechanisms of viral evasion of host immune responses.

We encourage the submission of manuscripts describing the activity of well-defined chemical compounds for the treatment of viral diseases of humans and vertebrate animals. We also publish manuscripts on the protective activity of vaccines for humans, and we will consider reports of the testing of veterinary vaccines in the target animal species. All papers must include a sufficiently detailed description of methods to permit other investigators to replicate the experiments. Authors reporting the antiviral effect of a novel small-molecule drug must reveal its chemical structure. Claims of in vitro or in vivo efficacy of a drug or vaccine must be supported by appropriate statistical analysis.


Note: Antiviral Research may choose not to publish certain COVID-19 papers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has focused attention on the possibility that patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 might benefit from treatment with certain licensed drugs approved for conditions other than viral infection. Reports that various medications inhibit the replication of the virus in vitro have been widely publicized in news articles and on medical websites, giving the impression that compounds still in the earliest stage of evaluation may be used to prevent or treat COVID-19. Such misunderstanding may result in the inappropriate use of a drug by physicians and to self-treatment by people who obtain it from other sources, with a risk of toxicity. This may be a particular problem when a medication is available without prescription as a veterinary product. Hoarding or inappropriate use of a drug intended to treat another disease may also make it unavailable to patients with that disease. The editors of Antiviral Research may therefore choose not to publish certain COVID-19 manuscripts, when in our judgment publication is likely to result in harm, without clear evidence of benefit.


The scope of AVR also includes the prevention and treatment of viral diseases of vertebrate animals. We do not publish reports on viral diseases of plants or of insects, crustaceans or other invertebrates. Studies of viral diseases of livestock and companion animals must be clearly related to the development of realistic therapies. Papers on veterinary vaccines should report findings in the target animal species.


We discourage the submission of manuscripts reporting the antiviral activity of unpurified natural products, or of partially purified substances of natural origin for which a mechanism of action has not been determined. Manuscripts claiming an antiviral effect of homeopathic products or other highly diluted preparations, or which fail to clearly identify the biological ingredient or molecule responsible for the antiviral activity of an experimental therapy, will not be considered for publication. Articles describing antiseptics with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity will not be accepted. We also discourage submission of in silico docking studies or other computer-based predictions of antiviral activity that are not supported by data from biological assays. Citations of reports that have not undergone peer review must include the note "[not peer-reviewed]."

Antiviral Research is an official publication of the International Society for Antiviral Research (http://www.isar-icar.com).

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