scholarly journals Antiviral Immunity in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: From Protective to Deleterious Responses

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2578
Author(s):  
Grigore Mihaescu ◽  
Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc ◽  
Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu ◽  
Marian Constantin ◽  
Roxana Filip ◽  
...  

After two previous episodes, in 2002 and 2012, when two highly pathogenic coronaviruses (SARS, MERS) with a zoonotic origin emerged in humans and caused fatal respiratory illness, we are today experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic produced by SARS-CoV-2. The main question of the year 2021 is if naturally- or artificially-acquired active immunity will be effective against the evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. This review starts with the presentation of the two compartments of antiviral immunity—humoral and cellular, innate and adaptive—underlining how the involved cellular and molecular actors are intrinsically connected in the development of the immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Then, the SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology, as well as the derived diagnosis and therapeutic approaches, will be discussed.

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3386
Author(s):  
Bart Spiesschaert ◽  
Katharina Angerer ◽  
John Park ◽  
Guido Wollmann

The focus of treating cancer with oncolytic viruses (OVs) has increasingly shifted towards achieving efficacy through the induction and augmentation of an antitumor immune response. However, innate antiviral responses can limit the activity of many OVs within the tumor and several immunosuppressive factors can hamper any subsequent antitumor immune responses. In recent decades, numerous small molecule compounds that either inhibit the immunosuppressive features of tumor cells or antagonize antiviral immunity have been developed and tested for. Here we comprehensively review small molecule compounds that can achieve therapeutic synergy with OVs. We also elaborate on the mechanisms by which these treatments elicit anti-tumor effects as monotherapies and how these complement OV treatment.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1457
Author(s):  
Dewald Schoeman ◽  
Burtram C. Fielding

Over the past 18 years, three highly pathogenic human (h) coronaviruses (CoVs) have caused severe outbreaks, the most recent causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, being the first to cause a pandemic. Although much progress has been made since the COVID-19 pandemic started, much about SARS-CoV-2 and its disease, COVID-19, is still poorly understood. The highly pathogenic hCoVs differ in some respects, but also share some similarities in clinical presentation, the risk factors associated with severe disease, and the characteristic immunopathology associated with the progression to severe disease. This review aims to highlight these overlapping aspects of the highly pathogenic hCoVs—SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2—briefly discussing the importance of an appropriately regulated immune response; how the immune response to these highly pathogenic hCoVs might be dysregulated through interferon (IFN) inhibition, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA); and how these could link to the ensuing cytokine storm. The treatment approaches to highly pathogenic hCoV infections are discussed and it is suggested that a greater focus be placed on T-cell vaccines that elicit a cell-mediated immune response, using rapamycin as a potential agent to improve vaccine responses in the elderly and obese, and the potential of stapled peptides as antiviral agents.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeel Afzal ◽  
Naseer Iqbal ◽  
Saima Feroz ◽  
Asghar Ali ◽  
Muhammad Ali Ehsan ◽  
...  

The emergence of a pandemic scale respiratory illness (COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019) and the lack of the world’s readiness to prevent its spread resulted in an unprecedented rise of biomedical...


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Lavkush Dwivedi

Infectious diseases and consequent immune imbalancesare major constraint in human health managementthroughout the world. However, in recentdecades enormous efforts have been made to elucidatethe immunomodulatory approaches againstinfectious diseases. Immunomodulation is a therapeuticapproach in which we try to intervene inauto regulating processes of the defense system toadjust the immune response at a desired level.The present special issue on cutting edge issues inImmunomodulation like Immune stimulation, Immunesuppression, Immune potentiating and immunereinforcement summarizes our current understandingof this complex mosaic. The accompanyingselection of recent articles from across theworld provides further insight into this topic. 


2021 ◽  
pp. 160-197
Author(s):  
Elena Locci ◽  
Silvia Raymond

In recent years, immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer; however, inflammatory reactions in healthy tissues often have side effects that can be serious and lead to permanent discontinuation of treatment. This toxicity is not yet well understood and is a major obstacle to the use of immunotherapy. When the immune system is so severely activated, the resulting inflammatory reaction can have detrimental effects and sometimes serious damage to healthy tissue. We wanted to know if there was a difference between an optimal immune response that aims to kill cancer and an unwanted response that could affect healthy tissue. Identifying the distinctive elements between these two immune responses allows the development of new, more effective and less toxic therapeutic approaches. Keywords: Cancer; Cells; Tissues, Tumors; Prevention, Prognosis; Diagnosis; Imaging; Screening; Treatment; Management


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Duarte-Silva ◽  
Livia H. Morais ◽  
Gerard Clarke ◽  
Wilson Savino ◽  
Christina Peixoto

Chagas disease (CD) is a tropical and still neglected disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi that affects >8 million of people worldwide. Although limited, emerging data suggest that gut microbiota dysfunction may be a new mechanism underlying CD pathogenesis. T. cruzi infection leads to changes in the gut microbiota composition of vector insects, mice, and humans. Alterations in insect and mice microbiota due to T. cruzi have been associated with a decreased immune response against the parasite, influencing the establishment and progression of infection. Further, changes in the gut microbiota are linked with inflammatory and neuropsychiatric disorders, comorbid conditions in CD. Therefore, this review article critically analyses the current data on CD and the gut microbiota of insects, mice, and humans and discusses its importance for CD pathogenesis. An enhanced understanding of host microbiota will be critical for the development of alternative therapeutic approaches to target CD, such as gut microbiota-directed interventions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Serrano-Luna ◽  
Carolina Piña-Vázquez ◽  
Magda Reyes-López ◽  
Guillermo Ortiz-Estrada ◽  
Mireya de la Garza

The standard reference for pathogenic and nonpathogenic amoebae is the human parasiteEntamoeba histolytica; a direct correlation between virulence and protease expression has been demonstrated for this amoeba. Traditionally, proteases are considered virulence factors, including those that produce cytopathic effects in the host or that have been implicated in manipulating the immune response. Here, we expand the scope to other amoebae, including less-pathogenicEntamoebaspecies and highly pathogenic free-living amoebae. In this paper, proteases that affect mucin, extracellular matrix, immune system components, and diverse tissues and cells are included, based on studies in amoebic cultures and animal models. We also include proteases used by amoebae to degrade iron-containing proteins because iron scavenger capacity is currently considered a virulence factor for pathogens. In addition, proteases that have a role in adhesion and encystation, which are essential for establishing and transmitting infection, are discussed. The study of proteases and their specific inhibitors is relevant to the search for new therapeutic targets and to increase the power of drugs used to treat the diseases caused by these complex microorganisms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madalina Bota ◽  
Gheorghe Popa ◽  
Cristina Blag ◽  
Alexandru Tataru

Infantile hemangiomas as frequent infancy tumors have been a controversial issue of medical scientists worldwide. Their clinical aspects are various and their physiopathology is yet to be fully understood. Numerous publications outline the characteristics, causes, evolution possibilities and therapeutic approaches. Deciding whether to treat or not is the main question of this kind of pathology. Hemangiomas that have complications or can cause irreversible damage need therapy. This is a brief review of up-to-date information regarding the presentation of infantile hemangiomas and target-therapies.


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