Understanding SARS CoV-2 biology to win COVID-19 battle / Entendendo a biologia do SARS CoV-2 para vencer a batalha contra a COVID-19

This review highlights the main findings on the biology of SARS CoV-2 and the strategies to combat COVID 19 pandemic. Since the initial outbreak in China on December 2019, the international scientific community joined efforts in an unprecedent public health battle. In late May 2020, 5 204 508 cases and 337 687 deaths have been reported by World Health Organization, with higher number of cases in Europe and Americas. SARS-CoV-2 was described as a novel variant from the coronavirus family and its genome was sequenced within a few months while COVID 19 quickly spread worldwide. The main cell receptor (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) was identified as involved in the invasion of host cells. As a result of the findings from cell biology, immunology and clinical studies, the pathogenesis of the virus started to be understood but it has been not fully elucidated so far. While a massive effort for the development of a vaccine is on course, preventive protocols for infection control have been proposed. Many studies on the discovering of effective therapeutic protocols have been developed, particularly on the redirection of already approved substances, but no gold standard treatment was established until now. An overview on the envisioned socioeconomic and politic impacts suggest that our society will be transformed after COVID 19 pandemia. As a result, deep changes in science, politics, socioeconomic and healthcare priorities shall appear in post-pandemia agenda.(AU)

Esta revisão destaca os principais relatos sobre a biologia do SARS CoV-2 e as estratégias para combater a epidemia de COVID 19. Desde o surto inicial na China, em dezembro de 2019, a comunidade científica internacional uniu esforços em uma batalha de saúde pública sem precedentes. No final de maio de 2020, 5.204.508 casos e 337.687 mortes foram reportadas pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, com maior número de casos na Europa e nas Américas. O SARS-CoV-2 foi descrito como uma nova variante da família coronavírus e seu genoma foi sequenciado em poucos meses, enquanto a COVID 19 se espalhou rapidamente pelo mundo. O receptor celular principal (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) foi identificado como envolvido no processo de invasão às células do hospedeiro. Como resultado das descobertas da biologia celular, imunologia e estudos clínicos, a patogênese do vírus começou a ser entendida mas não está completamente elucidada até o momento. Enquanto um grande esforço para o desenvolvimento da vacina está em curso, protocolos preventivos para o controle de infeção foram propostos. Muitos estudos para o estabelecimento de protocolos terapêuticos efetivos têm sido desenvolvidos, particularmente no reposicionamento de substâncias já aprovadas, porém nenhum tratamento padrão foi estabelecido até o momento. Uma visão geral dos impactos políticos e socioeconômicos previstos sugerem que nossa sociedade será transformada após a pandemia de COVID 19. Como resultado, mudanças profundas nas prioridades da ciência, política, área socioeconômica e saúde deverão surgir na agenda póspandemia.(AU)

Rational use of antimicrobials in dentistry during pregnancy

The use of medicines during pregnancy deserves special attention from dentists due to the potential risks to fetal development.The prescription of antimicrobial drugs during this period must be based not only on the etiology of the disease butalso on the drug’s effect on the embryo, which may be toxic, possibly leading to irreversible lesions. Interest in studiesof the teratogenic effects of drugs increased in response to reports of the high incidence of phocomelia in patients treatedwith thalidomide. Although teratogenicity has long been known, pregnant women today are still exposed to this risk. Theeffects of drugs depend on the level of susceptibility of the fetus and on the period of exposure during pregnancy. In thiscontext, and considering the paucity of studies on this subject in dentistry, the aim of this review was to offer an up-to-datecompilation of data on the antimicrobial drugs most frequently used during pregnancy and the effects of their use (AU)