Ethnological aspects of COVID-19

Abstract Within recent past, coronavirus has shaken the whole world. The world faced a new pandemic of novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19).It has socioeconomically impacted world population a lot in terms of education, economy as well as physical and mental health. This novel coronavirus is notorious enough that put human health at a great risk. Currently, researchers all over the world aretrying hard to develop a new drug/vaccine for its treatment. In past decades, the world population has faced various viral infectious illness outbreaks. Influenza A, Ebola, Zika, SARS and MERS viruses had whacked public health and economy. Medical science technology achieved the landmark in developing coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines that are approved currently for emergency use. Some of the recently approved vaccines are developed by Pfizer and Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Gam-COVID-vac (Sputnik V), Bharat Biotech (covaxin) andOxford-AstraZeneca vaccines (covishield) (Badenet al., 2021). Here, a short review is drafted focusingon infection, immune system, pathogenesis, phylogenesis, mode of transmission and impact of coronavirus on health and economy and recent developments in treating COVID-19

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals key epigenetic targets in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

COVID-19 is an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2), which has caused a global outbreak. Current research efforts are focused on the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to propose drug-based therapeutic options. Transcriptional changes due to epigenetic regulation are key host cell responses to viral infection and have been studied in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV; however, such changes are not fully described for SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we analyzed multiple transcriptomes obtained from cell lines infected with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, and from COVID-19 patient-derived samples. Using integrative analyses of gene co-expression networks and de-novo pathway enrichment, we characterize different gene modules and protein pathways enriched with Transcription Factors or Epifactors relevant for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We identified EP300, MOV10, RELA, and TRIM25 as top candidates, and more than 60 additional proteins involved in the epigenetic response during viral infection that has therapeutic potential. Our results show that targeting the epigenetic machinery could be a feasible alternative to treat COVID-19.

Patents Related to Pathogenic Human Coronaviruses.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses have caused outbreaks of respiratory disease since the beginning of the 21st century, representing a significant threat to public health. Together, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and, more recently, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have caused a large number of deaths around the world. Thus, investments in research and the development of strategies aimed at diagnosing, treating, and preventing these infections are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the patents that address pathogenic coronaviruses in Google Patents databases in the last year (2019-2020). METHODS: The search strategy was carried out in April 2020, based on the keywords "SARS", "SARS-CoV", "MERS", "MERS-CoV", "SARS-CoV-2" and "COVID-19. Out of the patents examined, 25 were selected for a short description in this study. RESULTS: A total of 191 patents were analyzed, 149 of which were related to SARS-CoV, and 29 and 12 were related to MERS-CoV and SARS- CoV2, respectively. The patents addressed the issues of diagnosis, therapeutic agents, prevention and control, along with other applications. CONCLUSION: Several promising strategies have been documented in intellectual property databases favoring the need for further studies on the pathogenesis and optimization of the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment for these emerging infections.

Effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) on the nervous system. What can we expect from SARS -CoV-2? / [Efectos de los coronavirus del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV) y del síndrome respiratorio del Medio Oriente (MERS-CoV) en el sistema nervioso. ¿Qué esperar del SARS-CoV-2?]

Coronaviruses cause respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders in animals and humans. The current SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 infectious agent, belongs to a subgroup called betacoronavirus including the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV responsible for epidemics in 2002 and 2012, respectively. These viruses can also infect the nervous system due to their affinity for the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expressed in neurons and glial cells. Infections with SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and now SARS-CoV-2 also produce neurological signs such as acute cerebrovascular disease, impaired consciousness, and muscle injury, as well as dizziness, hypogeusia, hyposmia, hypoxia, neuralgia, and hypoxic encephalopathy. For this reason, close attention should be paid to the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 patients.

Los coronavirus son una familia de virus que se caracterizan por producir afectaciones respiratorias y gastrointestinales en animales y en seres humanos. El actual SARS-CoV-2, agente infeccioso de la COVID-19, pertenece a un subgrupo denominado betacoronavirus del que hacen parte el SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV, virus responsables de epidemias en el 2002 y el 2012, respectivamente. Estos virus también pueden infectar el sistema nervioso debido a su afinidad con la enzima convertidora de angiotensina humana 2 (ACE2), la cual se expresa en neuronas y células gliales. Se ha demostrado que las infecciones con SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV, y ahora también con el SARS-CoV-2, ocasionan condiciones neurológicas como la enfermedad cerebrovascular aguda, la conciencia alterada y las lesiones musculares, así como mareos, hipogeusia, hiposmia, hipoxia, neuralgia y encefalopatía hipóxica. Por ello debe prestarse mucha atención a las manifestaciones neurológicas de los pacientes de COVID-19.

The Potential of Algal Biotechnology to Produce Antiviral Compounds and Biopharmaceuticals.

The emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to an unprecedented pandemic, which demands urgent development of antiviral drugs and antibodies; as well as prophylactic approaches, namely vaccines. Algae biotechnology has much to offer in this scenario given the diversity of such organisms, which are a valuable source of antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds that can also be used to produce vaccines and antibodies. Antivirals with possible activity against SARS-CoV-2 are summarized, based on previously reported activity against Coronaviruses or other enveloped or respiratory viruses. Moreover, the potential of algae-derived anti-inflammatory compounds to treat severe cases of COVID-19 is contemplated. The scenario of producing biopharmaceuticals in recombinant algae is presented and the cases of algae-made vaccines targeting viral diseases is highlighted as valuable references for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Successful cases in the production of functional antibodies are described. Perspectives on how specific algae species and genetic engineering techniques can be applied for the production of anti-viral compounds antibodies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are provided.

SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) treatment: a patent review.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus has been responsible for several virus outbreaks since 2003, caused by SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and currently SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the causative agent of coronavirus disease in 2019. COVID-19 has become a global public health emergency because of its high virulence and mortality capacity. This patent review aims to provide an overview of the patents that present possible treatments for SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. AREAS COVERED: To treat SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2, researchers have filed patents for a number of therapeutic agents. Most of the treatments found were protease inhibitors aimed at proteases such as PLpro, 3 CLpro, RNA helicase, and Spike protein, or used monoclonal antibodies and interferons. In addition, the use of Chinese folk medicine and its multitude of medicinal plants with strong antiviral properties was reinforced. Thus, these therapies used in previous epidemics can serve as an aid in the new pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 and be a starting point for new treatments. EXPERT OPINION: The various antiviral alternatives presented in this review offer therapeutic options to fight coronavirus infections. If shown to be effective, these drugs may be extremely important in the current pandemic.

Forty years with coronaviruses.

I have been researching coronaviruses for more than forty years. This viewpoint summarizes some of the major findings in coronavirus research made before the SARS epidemic and how they inform current research on the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2.

MERS-CoV: consideraciones generales para el diagnóstico por laboratorio / MERS-CoV: general considerations for laboratory diagnosis

La confirmación de un caso probable o sospechoso de infección por MERS-CoV (según criterios clínicos y epidemiológicos), sólo puede ser realizada mediante pruebas de laboratorio. Sin embargo, otros patógenos respiratorios virales (incluyendo, pero no limitado a: Influenza, Virus Sincitial Respiratorio, otros beta y alphacoronavirus humanos comunes) y bacterianos (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae tipo b, Legionella pneumophila) deben ser considerados dentro del algoritmo diagnóstico.

Recomendaciones provisionales para la vigilancia de la infección humana causada por el coronavirus causante del síndrome respiratorio de Oriente Medio (MERS-CoV) - 14 de julio de 2014 / Interim Recommendations for the Surveillance of Human Infection Caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - July 14, 2014

La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) está actualizando las recomendaciones para la vigilancia de la infección humana causada por el coronavirus causante del síndrome respiratorio de Oriente Medio (MERS-CoV), las cuales se publicaron por primera vez a finales del 2012. La OMS seguirá actualizando estas recomendaciones a medida que surjan nuevos datos. Este documento contiene un resumen de las recomendaciones de la OMS, no un repaso general de los casos notificados en la actualidad, que se encuentran en el sitio web de la OMS sobre las infecciones por coronavirus. Cabe subrayar que estas recomendaciones deberán ponerse en práctica en diferentes países que varían en cuanto a sus recursos y tendencias epidemiológicas. (Al 14 de julio del 2014 - Actualización)