Future Virology

几千年来人类一直处于病毒性疾病的控制之下。目前病毒学研究正以前所未有的速度发展。病毒学和基因组学研究领域多年来一直紧密相连；第一个被测序的全基因组是病毒起源-1977年的噬菌体phi x174。从那时起，更多的病毒基因组已经被绘制出来，而且随着人类基因组的出现，现在可以确定感染期间的病毒和宿主相互作用。因此，这就为研究潜在的抗病毒目标提供了一个完整的目录。艾滋病毒大流行的出现导致合理药物设计领域的研究急剧增加，导致大量抗病毒药物和疫苗进入临床试验。抗药性突变体的发展和新病毒（如SARS冠状病毒和禽流感H5N1-一种具有大流行潜力的病毒）的出现，给已经受到时间限制的病毒学界增加了额外的负担。在新的疾病爆发时迅速采取行动的必要性使得病毒学家必须随时了解所有关键进展。《未来病毒学》（ISSN:1746-0794）为今天在该领域工作的所有科学家提供了一个跨学科论坛。

Mankind has been at the mercy of viral diseases for millennia. In the current virologic landscape, research is expanding at an unprecedented rate. The fields of virology and genomic research have been closely linked for many years; the first whole genome to be sequenced was viral in origin – bacteriophage phi X174, in 1977. Since then, many more viral genomes have been mapped, and with the human genome also available, it is now possible to determine viral–host interactions during infection. This has consequently provided a complete catalogue of potential antiviral targets to be researched. The advent of the HIV pandemic led to a dramatic increase in research in the field of rational drug design, resulting in the large number of antiviral drugs and vaccines entering clinical trials today. The development of drug-resistant mutants and the emergence of new viruses (such as SARS coronavirus and avian influenza H5N1 – a virus with pandemic potential) are adding additional burdens to the already time-constrained virology community. The need to move swiftly in the event of a new disease outbreak makes it essential for the virologist to keep up-to-date with all key advances. Future Virology (ISSN: 1746-0794) provides an interdisciplinary forum for all scientists working in the field today.