Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for seasonal outbreaks in temperate and tropical regions, including Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Its transmission via mosquitoes, particularly Culex species, poses persistent challenges to public health. Despite ongoing efforts, comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies remain limited. Methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed literature, clinical trials, and government surveillance data from Italy and Iran was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and supplementary web-based resources. Inclusion criteria focused on molecular studies of WNV, vaccine and antiviral drug development, and regional outbreak reports. Results: WNV transmission is influenced by climatic conditions, as well as vector distribution and ecological patterns. While human vaccines are currently under development, only veterinary vaccines yielded promising but still limited evidence of effectiveness. Notably, therapeutic measures are currently limited to supportive care, whereas investigational antiviral drugs are in early-stage trials. Interestingly, Italy demonstrates robust surveillance with regular reporting of outbreaks, whereas data from Iran indicate that despite a widespread serological footprint, especially in southern and southwestern provinces, the reported clinical impact on humans and animals appears comparatively less severe. Conclusions: Bridging gaps in vaccine availability, therapeutic innovation, and disease monitoring is essential for effective WNV management to prepare for potential severe future outbreaks in Europe and the Middle East. On the other hand, regional differences between Italy and Iran reveal the need not only for tailored public health interventions and enhanced surveillance, but also for sustained investment in research. In our view, collaborative frameworks across Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries in a “One Health” approach may improve preparedness and response to future WNV outbreaks.

Background/Objectives: Vaccination is a critical public health intervention, yet its global implementation is hindered by high production costs and cold-chain requirements. This review aims to evaluate plant-based systems as sustainable, cost-efficient alternatives for vaccine production. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science). The peer-reviewed references were critically assessed, focusing on molecular expression strategies, phytochemical immunomodulators, and plant-mediated oral delivery. Results: Plant and microalgae systems effectively support nuclear, chloroplast, and transient expression of diverse antigens. Furthermore, specific plant-derived compounds were found to act as potent adjuvants and immunostimulants, enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccine formulations. Edible plant tissues also provide a viable platform for oral delivery, reducing the need for extensive purification and refrigerated logistics. Conclusions: Integrating recombinant expression technologies with bioactive plant metabolites offers a flexible and scalable foundation for next-generation vaccines. These biological platforms show promise for addressing some immunization challenges, particularly in low-resource settings.

Background/Objectives: Vaccination is a critical public health intervention, yet its global implementation is hindered by high production costs and cold-chain requirements. This review aims to evaluate plant-based systems as sustainable, cost-efficient alternatives for vaccine production. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science). The peer-reviewed references were critically assessed, focusing on molecular expression strategies, phytochemical immunomodulators, and plant-mediated oral delivery. Results: Plant and microalgae systems effectively support nuclear, chloroplast, and transient expression of diverse antigens. Furthermore, specific plant-derived compounds were found to act as potent adjuvants and immunostimulants, enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccine formulations. Edible plant tissues also provide a viable platform for oral delivery, reducing the need for extensive purification and refrigerated logistics. Conclusions: Integrating recombinant expression technologies with bioactive plant metabolites offers a flexible and scalable foundation for next-generation vaccines. These biological platforms are uniquely positioned to address global immunization challenges, particularly in low-resource settings.

Hantaviruses are zoonotic RNA viruses responsible for two severe human diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Worldwide case fatality rates vary from 1% to 40%. Although single-layer genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics studies have advanced our understanding of hantavirus biology, true multi-omics integration remains scarce, leaving systems-level mechanisms of disease severity and host–pathogen interactions unresolved. High-throughput omics technologies have greatly advanced the study of hantavirus–host interactions. This review summarizes genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and AI-enabled approaches in hantavirus research. Genomic studies have clarified viral diversity, evolution, and reassortment, while transcriptomics has identified regulatory networks governing endothelial and innate immune responses. Proteomics has revealed host proteins involved in immune regulation, endothelial dysfunction, and potential therapeutic targeting, whereas metabolomics indicates substantial metabolic reprogramming during infection, although dedicated studies remain limited. AI-based approaches are increasingly applied to outbreak prediction, surveillance, and risk modeling. Drawing on successful multi-omics frameworks developed for other viral infections, we discuss opportunities to improve biomarker discovery, surveillance, therapeutic development, and future precision medicine strategies for hantavirus infections.

Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for seasonal outbreaks in temperate and tropical regions, including Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Its transmission via mosquitoes, particularly Culex species, poses persistent challenges to public health. Despite ongoing efforts, comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies remain limited. Methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed literature, clinical trials, and government surveillance data was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and supplementary web-based resources. Inclusion criteria focused on molecular studies of WNV, vaccine and antiviral drug development, and regional outbreak reports. Results: WNV transmission is influenced by climatic conditions, vector distribution, and ecological patterns. While human vaccines are currently under development, only veterinary vaccines resulted promising but still partial insights. Remarkably, therapeutic measures are currently limited to supportive care, whereas investigational antiviral drugs are in early-stage trials. Interestingly, Italy demonstrates robust surveillance with regular reporting of outbreaks, whereas data from Iran indicate that despite a widespread serological footprint, especially in southern and southwestern provinces, but the reported clinical impact on humans and animals appears comparatively less severe. Conclusions: Bridging gaps in vaccine availability, therapeutic innovation, and disease monitoring is essential for effective WNV management to prepare for potential severe future outbreaks in Europe and the Middle East. Regional differences between Italy and Iran reveal the need for tailored public health interventions, enhanced surveillance, and sustained investment in research. In our view, collaborative frameworks across Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries in a “One Health” approach may improve preparedness and response to future WNV outbreaks.