scholarly journals Antiviral and Immunological Activity of Zinc and Possible Role in COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
D.N. Marreiro ◽  
K.J.C. Cruz ◽  
A.R.S. Oliveira ◽  
J.B.S. Morais ◽  
B.J.S.A. Freitas ◽  
...  

Abstract Zinc deficiency compromises its biological functions, its effect on the immune system and its antiviral activity, increasing vulnerability to infectious diseases. This narrative review aims at presenting and discussing functional aspects and possible mechanisms involved in the potential role of zinc in the immune response and antiviral activity for COVID-19 prevention and control. The searches were conducted in PubMed and Science Direct databases, using clinical trials, experimental studies in animals and humans, case-control studies, case series, letters to the editor, and review articles published in English, without restrictions on year of publication. Search approach was based on using the terms: “zinc”, “COVID-19”, “antiviral agents”, “immunologic factors”, and “respiratory tract infections”. Literature shows the importance of zinc as an essential mineral immunomodulator with relevant antiviral activity in the body. Thus, although there is still a scarcity of studies evaluating zinc supplementation in patients with COVID-19, the results on the topic show the necessity of controlling zinc mineral deficiency, as well as maintaining its homeostasis in the body in order to strengthen the immune system and improve the prevention of highly-complex viral infections, such as that of the COVID-19.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 716-722
Author(s):  
Sneha Dhakite ◽  
Sadhana Misar Wajpeyi

The “Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)” is caused by “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)”, a newly discovered member of the Coronaviridae family of viruses which is a highly communicable. There is no effective medical treatment till date for Coronavirus disease hence prevention is the best way to keep disease away. Rasayana proved to be highly efficacious and cost effective for the Prevention and Control of viral infections when vaccines and standard therapies are lacking. Rasayana Chikitsa is one of the eight branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda which helps to maintain healthy life style. Rasayana improves immunity and performs many vital functions of human body. Vyadhikshamatva that is immune mechanism of the body is involved in Prevention of the occurrence of a new disease and it also decreases the virulence and progression of an existing disease. In COVID-19 the Respiratory system mainly get affected which is evident from its symptoms like cold, cough and breathlessness. Here the drugs help in enhancing immune system and strengthening functions of Respiratory system can be useful. For this purpose, the Rasayana like Chyavanprasha, Agastya Haritaki, Pippali Rasayana, Guduchi, Yashtimadhu, Haridra, Ashwagandha, Tulsi are used. Rasayana working on Respiratory system are best for Prevention of Coronavirus and boosting immune system. Rasayana Chikitsa can be effective in the Prevention as well as reducing symptoms of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 175346662199505
Author(s):  
Alastair Watson ◽  
Tom M. A. Wilkinson

With the global over 60-year-old population predicted to more than double over the next 35 years, caring for this aging population has become a major global healthcare challenge. In 2016 there were over 1 million deaths in >70 year olds due to lower respiratory tract infections; 13–31% of these have been reported to be caused by viruses. Since then, there has been a global COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused over 2.3 million deaths so far; increased age has been shown to be the biggest risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Thus, the burden of respiratory viral infections in the elderly is becoming an increasing unmet clinical need. Particular challenges are faced due to the interplay of a variety of factors including complex multimorbidities, decreased physiological reserve and an aging immune system. Moreover, their atypical presentation of symptoms may lead to delayed necessary care, prescription of additional drugs and prolonged hospital stay. This leads to morbidity and mortality and further nosocomial spread. Clinicians currently have limited access to sensitive detection methods. Furthermore, a lack of effective antiviral treatments means there is little incentive to diagnose and record specific non-COVID-19 viral infections. To meet this unmet clinical need, it is first essential to fully understand the burden of respiratory viruses in the elderly. Doing this through prospective screening research studies for all respiratory viruses will help guide preventative policies and clinical trials for emerging therapeutics. The implementation of multiplex point-of-care diagnostics as a mainstay in all healthcare settings will be essential to understand the burden of respiratory viruses, diagnose patients and monitor outbreaks. The further development of novel targeted vaccinations as well as anti-viral therapeutics and new ways to augment the aging immune system is now also essential. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Tao Liu

Abstract Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 infects the body and becomes an incurable and recurring disease. The pathogenesis of HSV-2 infection is not completely clear.Methods: We analyze the GSE18527 dataset in the GEO database in this paper to obtain distinctively displayed genes(DDGs)in the total sequential RNA of the biopsies of normal and lesioned skin groups, healed skin and lesioned skin groups of genital herpes patients, respectively.The related data of 3 cases of normal skin group, 4 cases of lesioned group and 6 cases of healed group were analyzed.The histospecific gene analysis , functional enrichment and protein interaction network analysis of the differential genes were also performed, and the critical components were selected.Results: 40 up-regulated genes and 43 down-regulated genes were isolated by differential performance assay.Histospecific gene analysis of DDGs suggested that the most abundant system for gene expression was the skin, immune system and the nervous system.Through the construction of core gene combinations, protein interaction network analysis and selection of histospecific distribution genes, 17 associated genes were selected:CXCL10,MX1,ISG15,IFIT1,IFIT3,IFIT2,OASL,ISG20,RSAD2,GBP1,IFI44L,DDX58,USP18,CXCL11,GBP5,GBP4 and CXCL9.The above genes are mainly located in the skin, immune system, nervous system and reproductive system.Conclusion:This paper elucidates an effective approach for a new mechanism of HSV-2 infection, and the molecular mechanism of the selected core genes in the process of HSV-2 infection requires future experimental studies.


2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 188-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Orihara ◽  
Hiroshi Hamamoto ◽  
Hiroshi Kasuga ◽  
Toru Shimada ◽  
Yasushi Kawaguchi ◽  
...  

Ganciclovir, foscarnet, vidarabine and ribavirin, which are used to treat viral infections in humans, inhibited the proliferation of a baculovirus (Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus) in BmN4 cells, a cultured silkworm cell line. These antiviral agents inhibited the proliferation of baculovirus in silkworm body fluid and had therapeutic effects. Using the silkworm infection model, the antiviral activity of Kampo medicines was screened and it was found that cinnamon bark, a component of the traditional Japanese medicine Mao-to, had a therapeutic effect. Based on the therapeutic activity, the antiviral substance was purified. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the purified fraction revealed that the antiviral activity was due to cinnzeylanine, which has previously been isolated from Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Cinnzeylanine inhibits the proliferation of herpes simplex virus type 1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that the silkworm–baculovirus infection model is useful for screening antiviral agents that are effective for treating humans infected with DNA viruses.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e033917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiwei He ◽  
Yue Zou ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Jumei Liu ◽  
Li Zhao ◽  
...  

IntroductionPregnancy in patients with mechanical heart valves (MHVs) is associated with high maternal complications and fetal complications.Anticoagulation treatments serve to decrease their venous clotting risk. Although some anticoagulation regimens have been used for patients during pregnancy with MHVs, no one is definitively superior among different regimens in recent studies. For a better understanding of the clinical treatment which anticoagulation regimen is more effective and safer during the pregnancy in patients with MHVs, a Bayesian network meta-analysis is necessary.Methods and analysisThis protocol has been reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. Related studies until April 2019 will be searched in the following databases: PubMed, Embase,SinoMed and the using the OVID interface to search for evidence-based medicine reviews. A clinical trial registry (www.ClinicalTrials.gov) was also searched for unpublished trials. Both experimental studies (randomised clinical trials) and observational studies (cohort studies, case–control studies and case series studies) will be included in this study. Quality assessment will be conducted using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool or Newcastle-Ottawa Scale based on their study designs. The primary outcomes of interest will be the frequencies of serious maternal and fetal events. The additional outcomes of interest will be adverse maternal events, mode of delivery and adverse fetal events. Pairwise and network meta-analysis will be conducted using R (V.3.4.4, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) and Stata (V.14, StataCorp). The ranking probabilities will be estimated at each possible rank for each anticoagulation regimen using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Statistical inconsistency assessment, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment will be performed.Ethics and disseminationEither ethics approval or patient consent is not necessary, because this study will be based on literature. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019130659


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3163
Author(s):  
Liisa Lehtoranta ◽  
Sinikka Latvala ◽  
Markus J. Lehtinen

Viral respiratory tract infection (RTI) is the most frequent cause of infectious illnesses including the common cold. Pharmacological solutions for treating or preventing viral RTIs are so far limited and thus several self-care products are available in the market. Some dietary supplements such as probiotics have been shown to modulate immune system function and their role in reducing the risk and the course of RTIs has been investigated extensively within the past decade. However, the mechanism of action and the efficacy of probiotics against viral RTIs remains unclear. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Knowledge for pre-clinical and clinical studies investigating the effect of probiotics on respiratory virus infections, immune response, and the course of upper and lower respiratory tract illness. The literature summarized in this narrative review points out that specific probiotic strains seem effective in pre-clinical models, through stimulating the immune system and inhibiting viral replication. Clinical studies indicate variable efficacy on upper respiratory illnesses and lack proof of diagnosed viral infections. However, meta-analyses of clinical studies indicate that probiotics could be beneficial in upper respiratory illnesses without specific etiology. Further studies aiming at discovering the mechanisms of action of probiotics and clinical efficacy are warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
Ajay Kushwaha ◽  
Nisha Kumari Ojha

Children are more susceptible to various infections because of underdeveloped immune system as compared to adults. Strengthening the immune system is a natural way to help the body fight against the disease-causing pathogens and immunomodulators can play a major role in this context. Various Ayurveda classics and studies published in journals related to Ayurveda drugs for improving immunity are reviewed and analysed. In Ayurveda, the objective of immune enhancement is achieved through the use of the Amalakyadi Rasayana (an Immunomodulators), as it increases longevity of life, memory, intellect, luxture, complexion, voice, strength of the body functions, strength of all senses and provides the resistance to disease, improves glow and power. Analysis of classical references and various experimental studies show that Amalakyadi Rasayana posse immuno-modulatory, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Anthelmintic activity. Present paper is a review to update knowledge on pharmacological properties, therapeutic actions and possible mode of action of the selected formulation, Amalakyadi rasayana from Yogaratnakara (Rasayanadhikara/17) to enhance the immunity in children. Rasayana is an important part of Ayurvedic therapeutics used to improve the quality of life by strengthening the tissue quality and by reducing the age-related tissue degeneration. This study reveals that Amalakyadi Rasayana have potential to improve or strengthen the immune system in children and thereby can lower down the morbidity rate in children.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (73) ◽  
pp. 163-168
Author(s):  
I. Khariv ◽  
B. Gutyj ◽  
V. Hunchak ◽  
N. Slobodyuk ◽  
A. Vynyarska ◽  
...  

The immune system provides resistance of the organism against bacterial and viral infections in the body of the poultry. In the intestinal mucosa of eymeria it was secrete metabolic products, that are toxic to various systems and tissues of turkeys. Eymeria, parasitizing in the gut, inhibit specific phase of immunity presented by antibodies (humoral type), reduce the activity of sensitized cells (cell type), slow down nonspecific phase of immunity, represented by various immune cells. The rapid and complete recovery of functional state of the immune system in turkeys, affected by eymeriozic invasion it was found if brovitatoxide was given if the aggregate of the fruits of milk thistle. Fruits contain group of flavius lignans named «Sylimaryn», acting immune stimulatory for the development of secondary immuno deficiencies state of body.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Oltean ◽  
Dina El Demellawy

Pregnant women are susceptible to viral infections due to physiological changes such as cell-mediated immunity. No severe adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes have been consistently reported in COVID-19 positive pregnancy cases. There are controversies around the role of COVID-19 in pregnancy. A systematic review was conducted to examine clinical maternal and neonatal clinical outcomes. Studies were included if they reported COVID-19 infection among pregnant women and/or COVID-19 positive neonates as validated by positive antibody testing or viral testing using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Case series, case reports, case-control studies, and comparative studies were included. 837 records were identified, resulting in 525 records for level I screening. 41 were included after full-text review. Results suggest elevated rates of ICU admission, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, C-sections, pre-term birth, and CRP in comparison to pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2. Careful monitoring of pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 to minimize adverse clinical outcomes is recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1378-1383
Author(s):  
Kanyaka Bagde ◽  
Bharat Rathi ◽  
Renu Rathi ◽  
Prem Badwaik ◽  
Swapnali Khabde

The greatness of Ayurveda medicine is that it works on your immune system and helps to build up the body to fight against viral invasions. It is the safest, economical and natural way of self-healing. It can quickly spread among masses from rich to poor all over the country. Ayurveda has been dealing with plenty of herbs for a very long time. These herbs include some rare to prevalent herbs which we can found some in the kitchen even though if that is of any commoners. The concern is that these viral infections are very prone to attack weak immunity and take the chance to affect the country to the globe. So the prevalent herbs of Ayurveda available in the kitchen will always be helpful to get through this viral invasion. These herbs are always there to make tasty food as well as to protect the body from infectious diseases by building the immunity strong. Herbs from the kitchen are not complicated to take as a medicine. Regular use of a few herbs in the straightforward form proves its importance as a medicine. In this article a review of herbs is done which we are available in our kitchen, we are using it in our daily life, and we are getting the benefit of these which a common man might not be fully aware of about. 


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