Browsing tag: COVID-19

CRISPR/CAS SYSTEM: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL AGAINST PATHOGENIC DISEASES


Shakira Aslam, Ali Umair, Zaid Aslam, Muhammad Zafar Saleem and Hamid Bashir

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Abstract: Viral pathogens are major concern nowadays. Bacterial CRISPR/Cas systems help in defending the host body against differentpathogens including viruses too. This system contains restriction enzymes that introduce dsDNA breaks on target site to make the virusnon-functional by damaging its genes. Coronavirus, HIV and Herpes viruses are causing mortality all around the world. To control thespread of disease, early detection and treatment is required. CRISPR system due to its high efficiency provides a platform to restrictthe viral entry into host cell, viral genome editing and eliminate the latent infections. In this review, the CRISPR strategies against threemajor viral diseases are put under consideration: Coronavirus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Herpesvirus associated dis-eases. Three CRISPR/Cas systems have been discussed including CRISPR/Cas12, CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas13 that are used againstthe above listed viruses.

COVID-19 TRANSMISSION, RISKS FACTORS AND DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS IN ASTHMATICS PATIENTS

TRANSMISJA COVID-19, CZYNNIKI RYZYKA I CHARAKTERYSTYKA CHOROBY U PACJENTÓW CHORYCH NA ASTMĘ
Shatha A. Alduraywish

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Abstract: The World Health Organizations (WHO) scientific brief on the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and asthma from 2021, states individuals with asthma to be at a higher risk of respiratory infections as recorded in the annual influenza season. However, existing data from the COVID-19 pandemic does not till date establish an association of the disease with asthma. The disease burden of COVID-19 among asthmatic patients has not been very evident. This paucity of information forms the main rationale of our literature review, which is focused on collecting scattered literature around transmission, risks, as well as disease characteristics of COVID-19 among asthmatics world over including Saudi Arabia. Methodology – This study report has been generated after detailed literature survey using keywords “asthma”, “coronavirus”, “COVID-19” and SARS-CoV-2 including quality high impact publications on relevant focus area through Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed. Publication between year 2019 and 2021 were selected in specific to ensure the focus of the current literature review does not lose relevance in space of time. Results – Our literature review identified elderly to have been reported to have high susceptibility to COVID-19; the risk being exacerbated among those with comorbidities. Further, no specific directives on asthma being one of the risk factors was found to be reported, especially with the current disease management strategy for COVID-19. The severely diseased COVID-19 patients also have been reported to exhibit increase in multiple cytokines, which may increase airway inflammation and exacerbate asthma attacks. However, contrary literature reports indicate an increase in T cells to reduce the disease impact of COVID-19. Conclusion – There is paucity in significant evidence as of writing this review article to highlight exclusive negative impact of COVID-19 on asthmatics. Asthma patients however need to be recommended care pertaining to having their controller medication as new data continue to emerge on the clinic-pathological factors of the novel coronavirus.

1. Introduction. 2. History of the pandemic. 3. Prevalence of COVID-19. 4. COVID-19: Risk factors, manifestation, complications. 5. Methodology. 6. COVID-19 and respiratory disorders. 7. COVID-19 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) disorders. 8. COVID-19 and asthma. 9. Discussion

KORONAWIRUSY – JAK INTERAKCJE KILKU BIAŁEK ZMIENIŁY NASZE POSTRZEGANIE ŚWIATA

CORONAVIRUSES – HOW PROTEIN INTERACTIONS CHANGED OUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD
Jolanta Bratosiewicz-Wąsik, Tomasz J. Wąsik

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Streszczenie: Koronawirus 2 ciężkiego ostrego zespołu oddechowego (SARS-CoV-2 – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) jest trzecim po koronawirusie ciężkiego ostrego zespołu oddechowego (SARS-CoV – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) i koronawirusie środkowo-wschodniego zespołu oddechowego (MERS-CoV – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), koronawirusem, który w XXI wieku pokonał barierę międzygatunkową wywołując u człowieka ciężkie schorzenie określane jako COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19). Praca niniejsza prezentuje najnowsze informacje na temat biologii koronawirusów, co ma pomóc w zrozumieniu wielu zagadnień związanych z zakaźnością SARS-CoV-2 i patogenezą COVID-19 oraz usystematyzować najnowsze informacje dotyczące tych zagadnień. Na wstępie przedstawiono podstawowe informacje dotyczące taksonomii, budowy i replikacji koronawirusów stanowiące podstawę dla dalszych rozważań. Następnie wyjaśniono zjawiska molekularne umożliwiające koronawirusom pokonanie bariery międzygatunkowej. Dalsza część pracy poświęcona została mechanizmom oddziaływania pomiędzy koronawirusami i receptorami komórkowymi stanowiącymi czynnik warunkujący tropizm gatunkowy i tkankowy oraz przebieg kliniczny zakażenia. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono receptorom komórkowym, peptydazie dwupeptydylowej IV oraz konwertazie angiotensyny typu 2, oddziałującym z białkiem S koronawirusów oraz proteazom komórkowym zaangażowanym w proteolizę biała S. Czynniki te determinują wejście wirusa do komórki oraz jego replikację i każda nawet niewielka zmiana jakościowa lub ilościowa w ekspresji tych czynników może mieć wpływ na przebieg zakażenia. W pracy omówiono również mechanizmy odpowiedzi układu odpornościowego na zakażenie koronawirusami istotne w patogenezie COVID-19.

1. Wprowadzenie. 2. Patogeneza i patofizjologia COVID-19. 3. Charakterystyka koronawirusów. 3.1. Systematyka. 3.2. Morfologia. 3.3. Białko S. 3.4. Replikacja. 4. Jak koronawirusy pokonują barierę międzygatunkową? 5. Receptory komórkowe dla koronawirusów.5.1. Peptydaza dwupeptydylowa IV. 5.2. Konwertaza angiotensyny typ 2. 6. Procesowanie proteolityczne białka S. 7. Mechanizmy immunopatogenezy indukowanej zakażeniem SARS-CoV-2. 7.1. Burza cytokinowa. 7.2. Wyniszczenie i zmniejszenie liczebności limfocytów. 7.3. Wzrost liczebności neutrofili. 7.4. Wzmocnienie zależne od przeciwciał. 8. Podsumowanie

 

Abstract: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third, following SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-CoV (MERS), zoonotic coronavirus that has crossed the species barrier in XXI century resulting in the development of serious human infection termed COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19). However, there are still many unanswered questions about its transmissibility and pathogenesis, what impelled us to gather the most recent facts about the nature of coronaviruses. At first we introduced the basic information about coronavirus taxonomy, structure, and replication process to create the basis for more advanced consideration. We also put across the molecular basis of the strategy used by coronaviruses to cross the species barrier. In the following part of this review we focused on the interactions between the virus and the receptor on the host cell, as this stage is the critical process determining the species and tissue tropism, as well as clinical course of infection. The special attention was paid to the cellular receptors interaction with S protein of different CoVs (dipeptidyl peptidase IV and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) as well as the cellular proteases involved in proteolysis of this protein. These factors determine the virus entry and replication, thus even the fine quantitative or qualitative difference in their expression may be crucial for outcome of infection. We also considered the host immune response and viral evasion mechanisms which would be helpful to understand COVID-19 pathogenesis. We wish the information provided by this review may be helpful to understand virus biology and to develop efficient therapeutic and preventive strategies.

1. Introduction. 2. Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of COVID-19. 3. Nature of coronavirus.3.1. Taxonomy. 3.2. Morphology. 3.3. S protein. 3.4. Replication.  4. How can coronaviruses cross the species barrier? 5. Cellular receptors for coronaviruses. 5.1. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV. 5.2. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. 6. Spike protein cleavage. 7. Mechanisms of immunopathogenesis induced bySARS-CoV-2. 7.1. Cytokine storm. 7.2. Depletion and exhaustion of lymphocytes. 7.3. Increased neutrophils. 7.4.Antibody-dependentenhancement. 8. Summary

NOVEL SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC TRANSMISSION WITH ONGOING ANTIVIRAL THERAPIES AND VACCINE DESIGN


Muhammad Yameen, Sara Sattar, Ayesha Khalid, Muhammad Aamir Aslam, Nishat Zafar, Muhammad Hassan Saeed, Muhammad Haseeb Arif, Muhammad Jahangeer, Azka Qadeer, Shoukat Hussain, Muhammad Aamir, Sania Mukhtar, Huma Nasir, Asif Shahzad

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Abstract: Starting from the end of 2019 the new SARs-CoV-2 virus, in the period of a few months, had spread to 210 countries and its territories. The Wuhan wild animal market, in Hubei province, China is considered the epicenter of this pandemic. WHO declared the name COVID-19 to designate the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is the third coronavirus pandemic after SARS in 2002–2003 and MERS-CoV in 2012. Genome sequencing of this new COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 virus shows slight genetic diversity when compared to other coronaviruses. Owing to its pathogenesis, and less known replication cycle, no universal antiviral treatment can be applied and vaccine preparation is still a larger challenge. The present article will highlight transmission, pandemic status, genetic diversity current antiviral therapy, and vaccine trials for COVID-19.

1. Introduction. 2. Pathogenesis of coronaviruses. 3. Genetic diversity. 4. Transmission. 5. Vaccination strategies against COVID-19. 6. In Process Vaccination strategies against COVID-19. 7. Lack of antiviral treatment and antiviral treatment studies. 8. Precautions. 9. Conclusions

COVID-19 – CHOROBA WYWOŁANA ZAKAŻENIEM WIRUSEM SARS-COV-2 GLOBALNYM ZAGROŻENIEM DLA ZDROWIA PUBLICZNEGO

COVID-19 – DISEASE CAUSED BY SARS-COV-2 INFECTION – VACCINE AND NEW THERAPIES RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
E. Nowakowska, S. S. Michalak

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Streszczenie: SARS-CoV-2 to nowy koronawirus wywołujący ciężki zespół niewydolności oddechowej. Celem licznych badań jest poszukiwanie możliwości leczenia choroby wywołanej przez SARS-CoV-2 nazwanej według zaleceń WHO – COVID-19. Koronawirusy należą do rodziny Coronaviridae, rzędu Nidovirales. Naukowcy zobrazowali za pomocą technik mikroskopowych wygląd SARS-CoV-2, który ma kształt zbliżony do korony i zawiera cztery białka strukturalne S, E, M i N. Receptorem, do którego wiążą się cząstki wirusa SARS-CoV-2 jest ACE2 (enzym konwertujący angiotensynę 2). Podstawowym testem diagnozującym zakażenie jest test RT-PCR (Real time RT-PCR). Trwają poszukiwania szczepionki przeciwko SARS-CoV-2 oraz nowych terapii, które mogłyby być zastosowane w leczeniu COVID-19.
1. Wprowadzenie. 2. Epidemiologia i patogeneza choroby. 3. Budowa molekularna, podział i pochodzenie koronawirusów. 4. Receptory wiążące koronawirusy. 5. Sposoby przenoszenia infekcji. 6. Objawy i przebieg infekcji. 7. Zalecenia profilaktyczne. 8. Charakterystyka testów stosowanych w diagnostyce zakażeń wywołanych przez koronawirus SARS-CoV-2. 9. Badania nad szczepionką przeciwko wirusowi SARS-CoV-2. 10. COVID-19 – wytyczne dotyczące leczenia – poszukiwania nowych terapii. 11. Podsumowanie

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is a new infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In February 2020 WHO renamed the disease to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Coronaviruses belong to the family of Coronaviridae, order Nidovirales. Scientists have visualized the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 using microscopic techniques, which has a crown-like shape and contains four structural proteins – S, E, M and N. ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) is a receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 virus particles bind. The primary test to diagnose infection is the RT-PCR (Real time RT-PCR). Research is underway to identify vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and therapeutic treatments for COVID-19.
1. Introduction. 2. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease. 3. Molecular structure, division and origin of coronaviruses. 4. Coronavirus binding receptors. 5. Ways of transferring infection. 6. Symptoms and course of infection. 7. Preventive recommendations. 8. Characteristics of tests used to diagnose infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 9. Studies on a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 virus. 10. COVID-19 – treatment guidelines – seeking new therapies. 11. Summary