scholarly journals A review on the SARS-CoV-2 mediated global pandemic: proximal origin, pathogenicity and therapeutic approaches

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumi Chatterjee ◽  
Bikram Dhara ◽  
Dattatreya Mukherjee ◽  
Arup Kumar Mitra

The world is amidst a public health crisis as the pandemic has shook us to the core. The COVID-19 caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 is of zoonotic origin and this tries to explain what could have been the possible proximal origins for the disease in humans. Our review aims at addressing the question like what structural or genomic vicissitude enabled the viral outbreak across genera and so efficiently infect the human populace across the globe. We also try to discuss the prospect of drug repurposing and scope for vaccine development considering the rapid genome modification of the virus. Another finding lies into the action of pre-existing drugs when they are applied in combination and probably that shades some light on the therapeutic approaches. Several investigation have been performed but we are still in search of a novel antiviral drug. With that vision, our focus shifted on the evaluation of existing drugs with positive response against the novel corona virus. We also try discussing certain trends including increased immunity to the disease in the population from a particular geographical area.

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 661-670
Author(s):  
Gabriella Pocsfalvi ◽  
Ramila Mammadova ◽  
Ana Paulina Ramos Juarez ◽  
Ramesh Bokka ◽  
Francesco Trepiccione ◽  
...  

Background: The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome β-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to become a long-lasting global health crisis. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has surpassed 22 million globally, resulting in over 700,000 deaths with more than 15 million people having recovered (https://covid19.who.int). Enormous efforts are underway for rapid vaccine and treatment developments. Amongst the many ways of tackling the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging. Summary: EVs are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures secreted from all types of cells, including those lining the respiratory tract. They have established roles in lung immunity and are involved in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases, including viral infection. In this review, we point out the roles and possible contribution of EVs in viral infections, as well as ongoing EV-based approaches for the treatment of COVID-19, including clinical trials. Key Messages: EVs share structural similarities to viruses and recent findings demonstrate that viruses exploit EVs for cellular exit and EVs exploit viral entry mechanisms for cargo delivery. Moreover, EV-virus interplay could be exploited for future antiviral drug and vaccine development. EV-based therapies, especially the mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs, are being intensively studied for the treatment of COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2466
Author(s):  
Michael A. Kiebish ◽  
Punit Shah ◽  
Rangaprasad Sarangarajan ◽  
Vivek K. Vishnudas ◽  
Stephane Gesta ◽  
...  

The emergence of COVID-19 progressed into a global pandemic that has functionally put the world at a standstill and catapulted major healthcare systems into an overburdened state. The dire need for therapeutic strategies to mitigate and successfully treat COVID-19 is now a public health crisis with national security implications for many countries. The current study employed Bayesian networks to a longitudinal proteomic dataset generated from Caco-2 cells transfected with SARS-CoV-2 (isolated from patients returning from Wuhan to Frankfurt). Two different approaches were employed to assess the Bayesian models, a titer-center topology analysis and a drug signature enrichment analysis. Topology analysis identified a set of proteins directly linked to the SAR-CoV2 titer, including ACE2, a SARS-CoV-2 binding receptor, MAOB and CHECK1. Aligning with the topology analysis, MAOB and CHECK1 were also identified within the enriched drug-signatures. Taken together, the data output from this network has identified nodal host proteins that may be connected to 18 chemical compounds, some already marketed, which provides an immediate opportunity to rapidly triage these assets for safety and efficacy against COVID-19.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Camilla Isgrò ◽  
Anna Maria Sardanelli ◽  
Luigi Leonardo Palese

In 2019 an outbreak occurred which resulted in a global pandemic. The causative agent has been identified in a virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family, similar to the agent of SARS, referred to as SARS-CoV-2. This epidemic spread rapidly globally with high morbidity and mortality. Although vaccine development is at a very advanced stage, there are currently no truly effective antiviral drugs to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study we present systematic and integrative antiviral drug repurposing effort aimed at identifying, among the drugs already authorized for clinical use, some active inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The most important result of this analysis is the demonstration that ethacrynic acid, a powerful diuretic, is revealed to be an effective inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Even with all the necessary cautions, given the particular nature of this drug, these data can be the starting point for the development of an effective therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Kiebish ◽  
Punit Shah ◽  
Rangaprasad Sarangarajan ◽  
Vivek K. Vishnudas ◽  
Stephane Gesta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The emergence of COVID-19 progressed into a global pandemic that has functionally put the world at a standstill and catapulted major healthcare systems into an overburdened state. The dire need for therapeutic strategies to mitigate and successfully treat COVID-19 is now a public health crisis with national security implications for many countries.Methods The current study employed Bayesian networks to a longitudinal proteomic dataset generated from Caco-2 cells transfected with SARS-CoV-2 (isolated from patients returning from Wuhan to Frankfurt) [1]. Two different approaches were employed to assess the Bayesian models, a titer-center topology analysis and a drug signature enrichment analysis.Results Topology analysis identified a set of proteins directly linked to the SAR-CoV2 titer, including ACE2, a SARS-CoV-2 binding receptor, MAOB and CHECK1. Aligning with the topology analysis, MAOB and CHECK1 were also identified within the enriched drug-signatures.Conclusions Taken together, the data output from this network has identified nodal host proteins that may be connected to 18 chemical compounds, some already marketed, which provides an immediate opportunity to rapidly triage these assets for safety and efficacy against COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar Gupta ◽  
B. S. Rithu ◽  
Kauser Banu ◽  
A. Shruthi ◽  
C. Sahana

SARS COV 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2) has created a global health emergency worldwide due to public health crisis and life-threatening situation. According to a recent study it has been reported that the virus was found originated in animal and transmitted to humans through a food chain. First case was reported in Wuhan-china on December 2019, In this review we have enlightened on different aspects of novel coronavirus 2019 and measure to combat the battle against the novel corona virus 2019.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e241485
Author(s):  
Priyal Taribagil ◽  
Dean Creer ◽  
Hasan Tahir

SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in a global pandemic and an unprecedented public health crisis. Recent literature suggests the emergence of a novel syndrome known as ‘long COVID’, a term used to describe a diverse set of symptoms that persist after a minimum of 4 weeks from the onset of a diagnosed COVID-19 infection. Common symptoms include persistent breathlessness, fatigue and cough. Other symptoms reported include chest pain, palpitations, neurological and cognitive deficits, rashes, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. We present a complex case of a previously well 28-year-old woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19. After resolution of her acute symptoms, she continued to experience retrosternal discomfort, shortness of breath, poor memory and severe myalgia. Investigations yielded no significant findings. Given no alternative diagnosis, she was diagnosed with ‘long COVID’.


Open Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-753
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Li ◽  
Beibei Huang ◽  
Qiang Shen ◽  
Shouwei Jiang ◽  
Kun Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract In recent months, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health crisis with takeover more than 1 million lives worldwide. The long-lasting existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection with intermittent viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for >4 months after clinical rehabilitation. A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with fever but without other specific symptoms. The treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir, oxygen inhalation, and other symptomatic supportive treatment facilitated recovery, and the patient was discharged. However, his viral PCR test was continually positive in oropharyngeal swabs for >4 months after that. At the end of June 2020, he was still under quarantine and observation. The contribution of current antivirus therapy might be limited. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients might be irrelevant to the virus status. Thus, further investigation to evaluate the contagiousness of convalescent patients and the mechanism underlying the persistent existence of SARS-CoV-2 after recovery is essential. A new strategy of disease control, especially extending the follow-up period for recovered COVID-19 patients, is necessary to adapt to the current situation of pandemic.


European View ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-163
Author(s):  
Nad’a Kovalčíková ◽  
Ariane Tabatabai

As governments and citizens around the world have struggled with the novel coronavirus, the information space has turned into a battleground. Authoritarian countries, including Russia, China and Iran, have spread disinformation on the causes of and responses to the pandemic. The over-abundance of information, also referred to as an ‘infodemic’, including manipulated information, has been both a cause and a result of the exacerbation of the public health crisis. It is further undermining trust in democratic institutions, the independent press, and facts and data, and exacerbating the rising tensions driven by economic, political and societal challenges. This article discusses the challenges democracies have faced and the measures they have adopted to counter information manipulation that impedes public health efforts. It draws seven lessons learned from the information war and offers a set of recommendations on tackling future infodemics related to public health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara A Schwetz ◽  
Thomas Calder ◽  
Elana Rosenthal ◽  
Sarah Kattakuzhy ◽  
Anthony S Fauci

Abstract A converging public health crisis is emerging because the opioid epidemic is fueling a surge in infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection with or without AIDS, the viral hepatitides, infective endocarditis, and skin and soft-tissue infections. An integrated strategy is needed to tailor preventive and therapeutic approaches toward infectious diseases in people who misuse and/or are addicted to opioids and to concurrently address the underlying predisposing factor for the infections—opioid use disorder. This commentary highlights the unique and complementary roles that the infectious diseases and substance use disorder communities can play in addressing this crisis of dual public health concerns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 366-369
Author(s):  
Rooh Ullah ◽  
Muhammad Suleman Rana ◽  
Mehmood Qadir ◽  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Niaz Ahmed

Pandemic of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in China is now become global public health crisis. At present 87.64% of the world is infected by this deadly illness. The risk from this epidemic depends on the nature of the virus, including how well it transmits from person to person, and the complications resulting from this current illness. The novel coronavirus has killed thousands of people in China and other countries as well; its rate of mortality is increasing day by day. There is an urgent need to control the virus by developing vaccine or any other antiviral drugs to save the world from this deadly viral infection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document