COVID-19 and immunity

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by a β-coronavirus and its genomic variants, is associated with substantial morbidities and mortalities globally. The COVID-19 virus enters host cells upon binding to the angiotensin converting enzyme two receptors. Patients afflicted with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or present with critical symptoms possibly due to diverse lifestyles, immune responses, aging, and underlying medical conditions. Geriatric populations, especially men in comparison to women, with immunocompromized conditions, are the most vulnerable to severe COVID-19-associated infections, complications, and mortalities. Notably, whereas immunomodulation, involving nutritional consumption, is essential to protecting an individual from COVID-19, immunosuppression is detrimental to the host with this hostile disease. As such, immune health is inversely correlated to COVID-19 severity and resulting consequences. Advances in genomic and proteomic technologies have helped us to understand the molecular events underlying symptomatology, transmission, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 and its genomic variants. Accordingly, there has been development of a variety of therapeutic interventions, ranging from mask wearing to vaccination to medication. Regardless of various measures, a strengthened immune system can be considered as a high priority of preventive medicine for combating this highly contagious disease. This chapter provides an overview of pathogenesis, effects of comorbidities on COVID-19 and their correlation to immunity, and prospective therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.