Potential antiviral therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

2022 ◽  
pp. 729-748
Author(s):  
Jasdeep Singh ◽  
Divya Singhal
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Therapies

Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Brief Review

JMS SKIMS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-15
Author(s):  
Saleem Kamili ◽  
Hisham Qadri
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Resource Poor

Hepatitis C, caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) was originally described as parenterally transmitted non-A non-B hepatitis. Since its discovery in 1989, the field of HCV research has become a shining example of successful translation of basic research wherein in a short of span of just 30 years the virus was discovered, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic assays were developed, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease were well defined and now with the availability of highly efficacious antiviral therapies many countries are already on their way to achieving World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination targets of hepatitis C by 2030.  However, much work needs to be done to eliminate hepatitis C especially in resource poor countries. Most recent data show an estimated 71 million people are currently infected with HCV worldwide and approximately 400,000 people die each year from causes related to HCV. Of these estimates, more than 13 million HCV infected persons are in India and Pakistan (Figure 1). Despite the availability of a cure for hepatitis C, only 20% of those infected patients have been diagnosed (1). In order to achieve the WHO targets of hepatitis C elimination, concerted efforts will have to made to make affordable and reliable diagnostics available worldwide.

scholarly journals Modulation of Endosome Function, Vesicle Trafficking and Autophagy by Human Herpesviruses

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 542
Author(s):  
Eduardo I. Tognarelli ◽  
Antonia Reyes ◽  
Nicolás Corrales ◽  
Leandro J. Carreño ◽  
Susan M. Bueno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Barr Virus ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Host Determinants ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Epstein Barr ◽  
Human Herpesviruses

Human herpesviruses are a ubiquitous family of viruses that infect individuals of all ages and are present at a high prevalence worldwide. Herpesviruses are responsible for a broad spectrum of diseases, ranging from skin and mucosal lesions to blindness and life-threatening encephalitis, and some of them, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), are known to be oncogenic. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that some herpesviruses may be associated with developing neurodegenerative diseases. These viruses can establish lifelong infections in the host and remain in a latent state with periodic reactivations. To achieve infection and yield new infectious viral particles, these viruses require and interact with molecular host determinants for supporting their replication and spread. Important sets of cellular factors involved in the lifecycle of herpesviruses are those participating in intracellular membrane trafficking pathways, as well as autophagic-based organelle recycling processes. These cellular processes are required by these viruses for cell entry and exit steps. Here, we review and discuss recent findings related to how herpesviruses exploit vesicular trafficking and autophagy components by using both host and viral gene products to promote the import and export of infectious viral particles from and to the extracellular environment. Understanding how herpesviruses modulate autophagy, endolysosomal and secretory pathways, as well as other prominent trafficking vesicles within the cell, could enable the engineering of novel antiviral therapies to treat these viruses and counteract their negative health effects.

scholarly journals The Rheumatology Drugs for COVID-19 Management: Which and When?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 783
Author(s):  
Fabiola Atzeni ◽  
Ignazio Francesco Masala ◽  
Javier Rodríguez-Carrio ◽  
Roberto Ríos-Garcés ◽  
Elisabetta Gerratana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Intravenous Immunoglobulins ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Immunomodulatory Drugs ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Large Heterogeneity ◽  
Necrosis Factor ◽  
Game Changer

Introduction: While waiting for the development of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines to effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV2, a relevant therapeutic strategy is to counteract the hyperinflammatory status, characterized by an increase mainly of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which hallmarks the most severe clinical cases. ‘Repurposing’ immunomodulatory drugs and applying clinical management approved for rheumatic diseases represents a game-changer option. In this article, we will review the drugs that have indication in patients with COVID-19, including corticosteroids, antimalarials, anti-TNF, anti-IL-1, anti-IL-6, baricitinib, intravenous immunoglobulins, and colchicine. The PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for English-language papers concerning COVID-19 treatment published between January 2020 and October 2020. Results were summarized as a narrative review due to large heterogeneity among studies. In the absence of specific treatments, the use of immunomodulatory drugs could be advisable in severe COVID-19 patients, but clinical outcomes are still suboptimal. An early detection and treatment of the complications combined with a multidisciplinary approach could allow a better recovery of these patients.

scholarly journals Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of patients with COVID-19 at Thailand’s university-based referral hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rujipas Sirijatuphat ◽  
Yupin Suputtamongkol ◽  
Nasikarn Angkasekwinai ◽  
Navin Horthongkham ◽  
Methee Chayakulkeeree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Drug Regimen ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Siriraj Hospital ◽  
Antiviral Medications

Abstract Background The epidemiology and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Thailand are scarce. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adult hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at Siriraj Hospital during February 2020 to April 2020. Results The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% (107 COVID-19 patients) among 1409 patients who underwent RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection at our hospital during the outbreak period. Patients with COVID-19 presented with symptoms in 94.4%. Among the 104 patients who were treated with antiviral medications, 78 (75%) received 2-drug regimen (lopinavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir plus chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine), and 26 (25%) received a 3-drug regimen with favipiravir added to the 2-drug regimen. Disease progression was observed in 18 patients (16.8%). All patients with COVID-19 were discharged alive. Conclusions The prevalence of COVID-19 was 7.5% among patients who underwent RT-PCR testing, and 10% among those having risk factors for COVID-19 acquisition. Combination antiviral therapies for COVID-19 patients were well-tolerated and produced a favorable outcome.

scholarly journals Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing To Monitor Viral Growth and Study Cellular Responses to Infection with Alphaherpesviruses in Real Time

mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Pennington ◽  
Gerlinde R. Van de Walle
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Impedance Sensing ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Mucosal Surfaces ◽  
Cell Substrate ◽  
Hsv 1

ABSTRACT Alphaherpesviruses, including those that commonly infect humans, such as HSV-1 and HSV-2, typically infect and cause cellular damage to epithelial cells at mucosal surfaces, leading to disease. The development of novel technologies to study the cellular responses to infection may allow a more complete understanding of virus replication and the creation of novel antiviral therapies. This study demonstrates the use of ECIS to study various aspects of herpesvirus biology, with a specific focus on changes in cellular morphology as a result of infection. We conclude that ECIS represents a valuable new tool with which to study alphaherpesvirus infections in real time and in an objective and reproducible manner. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) measures changes in an electrical circuit formed in a culture dish. As cells grow over a gold electrode, they block the flow of electricity and this is read as an increase in electrical impedance in the circuit. ECIS has previously been used in a variety of applications to study cell growth, migration, and behavior in response to stimuli in real time and without the need for cellular labels. Here, we demonstrate that ECIS is also a valuable tool with which to study infection by alphaherpesviruses. To this end, we used ECIS to study the kinetics of cells infected with felid herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), a close relative of the human alphaherpesviruses herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, and compared the results to those obtained with conventional infectivity assays. First, we demonstrated that ECIS can easily distinguish between wells of cells infected with different amounts of FHV-1 and provides information about the cellular response to infection. Second, we found ECIS useful in identifying differences between the replication kinetics of recombinant DsRed Express2-labeled FHV-1, created via CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, and wild-type FHV-1. Finally, we demonstrated that ECIS can accurately determine the half-maximal effective concentration of antivirals. Collectively, our data show that ECIS, in conjunction with current methodologies, is a powerful tool that can be used to monitor viral growth and study the cellular response to alphaherpesvirus infection. IMPORTANCE Alphaherpesviruses, including those that commonly infect humans, such as HSV-1 and HSV-2, typically infect and cause cellular damage to epithelial cells at mucosal surfaces, leading to disease. The development of novel technologies to study the cellular responses to infection may allow a more complete understanding of virus replication and the creation of novel antiviral therapies. This study demonstrates the use of ECIS to study various aspects of herpesvirus biology, with a specific focus on changes in cellular morphology as a result of infection. We conclude that ECIS represents a valuable new tool with which to study alphaherpesvirus infections in real time and in an objective and reproducible manner.

scholarly journals Early Steps of Hepatitis B Life Cycle: From Capsid Nuclear Import to cccDNA Formation

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 757
Author(s):  
João Diogo Dias ◽  
Nazim Sarica ◽  
Christine Neuveut
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Improve Liver Function ◽  
Control Virus ◽  
Episomal Dna

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major public health concern, with more than 250 million chronically infected people who are at high risk of developing liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although antiviral treatments efficiently control virus replication and improve liver function, they cannot cure HBV infection. Viral persistence is due to the maintenance of the viral circular episomal DNA, called covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), in the nuclei of infected cells. cccDNA not only resists antiviral therapies, but also escapes innate antiviral surveillance. This viral DNA intermediate plays a central role in HBV replication, as cccDNA is the template for the transcription of all viral RNAs, including pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), which in turn feeds the formation of cccDNA through a step of reverse transcription. The establishment and/or expression of cccDNA is thus a prime target for the eradication of HBV. In this review, we provide an update on the current knowledge on the initial steps of HBV infection, from the nuclear import of the nucleocapsid to the formation of the cccDNA.

scholarly journals A large outbreak of influenza A and B on a cruise ship causing widespread morbidity

2003 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. L. BROTHERTON ◽  
V. C. DELPECH ◽  
G. L. GILBERT ◽  
S. HATZI ◽  
P. D. PARASKEVOPOULOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Cruise Ship ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Large Outbreak ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

In September 2000 an outbreak of influenza-like illness was reported on a cruise ship sailing between Sydney and Noumea with over 1100 passengers and 400 crew on board. Laboratory testing of passengers and crew indicated that both influenza A and B had been circulating on the ship. The cruise coincided with the peak influenza period in Sydney. Morbidity was high with 40 passengers hospitalized, two of whom died. A questionnaire was sent to passengers 3 weeks after the cruise and 836 of 1119 (75%) responded. A total of 310 passengers (37%) reported suffering from an influenza-like illness (defined as cough, fever, myalgia and weakness) and 528 (63%) had seen a doctor for illness related to the cruise. One-third of passengers reported receipt of influenza vaccination in 2000; however neither their rates of influenza-like illness nor hospitalization were significantly different from those in unvaccinated passengers. A case–control study also found no significant protective effect of influenza vaccination. With the increasing popularity of cruise vacations, such outbreaks are likely to affect increasing numbers of people. Whilst influenza vaccination of passengers and crew may afford some protection, uptake and effectiveness may not be sufficient to prevent outbreaks. Surveillance systems and early intervention measures, such as antiviral therapies, should be considered to detect and control such outbreaks.

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