COVID19, a PANDEMIC ILLNESS
(written by Akash De )
However, our world faced such type of pandemic situation previously. In past 200years, at least seven waves of Cholera, four new strain of Influenza Virus(eg Spanish Flu, Bird Flu, Swain Flu etc), Tuberculosis and Human Immune Virus(HIV) have spread across the world; killed 100 millions people!
This corona strain, called SARS CoV2(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus2) is very much less fatal than previous notorious diseases, but highly contagious.
Now,before going to the discussion of this “novel” viral disease in detail,we should be enlighten about its naming history and other strain-brothers.
‘Corona’, is a Latin word, which means ‘ Crown’ or ’Wroth’. This virus has crown like projection(protinous spike) on its surface, so,it , better say its family is called like this.
Until now, five strains of corona sp. were discovered or identified viz. SARS CoV(2003),HCoV NL63(2004), HCoV HKU1(2005), MERS CoV(2012) and lastly today’s SARS CoV2.
It is claimed that today’s strain is the muted form of SARS CoV which was already exposured as epidemic situation.
- Ø A TALE of SARS-CoV:
- Let’s go in past…
Hope, we,all, can remember the name of ‘Bird Flu’, which was mainly spread from infected hen,cocks, poultry farms. SARS CoV is nothing but the reason of Bird flu,also called H1N1 virus. This outbreak reemerge in December,2003 in Southern China and gradually spread through the countries of Asia, Europe,America.
However, SARS CoV was not as communicable as SARS CoV. The reason may be its type ie Avian virus, not Zoonotic. So,person to person transmission is hardly possible.
Ø AFFIRMATION OF SARS COV2:
Now, most of us familiar to SARS CoV2. The first known infection were found in Wuhan, China. We already known the story of ‘Wuhan sea food market’.
Phylogenic analysis suggested that Rhinolophus sinicus, Rhinolophus affinis,collected in Yunnan province and designated RaTG13,and The pangolin coronavirus have up to 80%, 96% and 92% respectively resemblance to SARS-CoV-2.
Ø STRUCTURE & GENOMIC CONFIGARATION:
The appearance of this strain is similar to other sps of corona family. SARS CoV2 has 50 to 200nm sized virion which is consist of four structural proteins ie
I) S protein (spike protein)
II) M protein (membrane protein)
 |
| Structure |
III) E protein (Envelop protein)
IV) N protein ( Neucleocapsid protein)
The viral genom is covered by Neucleocapsid protein(N protein) and other three proteins ,being together, form viral capsid.
It has also linear positive sense Single Strand RNA(+ss RNA)(approximately 30,000 bases in length) like other strains of corona family.
However,SARS-CoV-2 is unique among known betacoronaviruses in its incorporation of a polybasic
cleavage site, a characteristic known to increase pathogenicity and transmissibility in other viruses.
 |
| Spike |
With a sufficient number of sequenced genomes, it is possible to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree of the mutation history of a family of viruses. By 12 January 2020, five genomes of SARS-CoV-2 had been
isolated from Wuhan and reported by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) and other institutions; the number of genomes increased to 42 by 30 January 2020. A phylogenetic analysis of those samples showed they were "highly related with at most seven mutations relative to a common ancestor", implying that the first human infection occurred in November or December 2019. As of 27 March 2020, 1,495 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled on six continents were publicly available.
Ø PATHOGENESITY:
Previously it was said that SARS CoV2 is not fatal at all but highly contagious. As it is, comparatively,large in size, it can not cover long distance(>1 meter) and mainly exposure through droplets from infected one.
Now, How does it infect? What are the MOA behind this?
On Jan,2020,a group of China researchers claimed that Angeotensin Converting Enzyme2( ACE2), which is located at alveolar region of lungs and act to help the establishment of surfactant property of lungs, is the targeting site of this virus. After reaching the target cell through mucous membrane, it fuses with that specific
As it mainly targets the alveolar ACE2 site which acts as a surfactant; responsible for alveolar motility during breathing, the elasticity of alveoli is interfered. This action of “novel” virus may presipited laboured breathing, dyspnea, shortness of breathing. Asthmatic condition and dry cough are mainly persisted for this dramatic event.
However, some researches also claim that SARS CoV2 suppress human body immune system and may be fatal for those who ,already,suffer from hyperglycemic,severe emphysema( mainly those who are smoker), hypertension like condition or those who are above 80years.
Ø CLINICAL MANIFESTATION OF SARS-COV-2:
1. Fever
2. Dry cough
3. Tiredness
Some people may have
1. Shortness of breath
2. Aches and pains
3. Nasal congestion
4. Sore throat
5. Diarrhea,nausea or runny nose
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms. Even people with very mild symptoms of COVID-19 can transmit the virus. So, who are having even mild symptoms should self isolate and medical provider or a COVID-19 information line for advice on testing or referral.
Ø PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES:
1. Clean your hands. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.(Regular washing your hands give more protection than using rubber gloves)
2. Avoid any mass gathering. Maintain social distance of at least 1 metre(3feet) between yourself and others.
3. Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing and sneezing.
4. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
5. Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
6. Dispose used tissue in a closed bin.
7. Use mask when you are outside home.
8. If you have fever,a cough and difficulty breathing seek medical attention.
9. Follow the direction of your local health authority.
10. Last but not the least stay home, stay safe.
Be SAFE from coronavirus if you have an underlying conditions like:
§ Cardiovascular disease
§ Respiratory condition
§ Diabetes
AVOID SPREADING RUMOURS,ALWAYS CHECK THE SOURCE YOU ARE GETTING INFORMATION FROM.
Ø Researches and Development
After outbreak of nCoV and for unstoppable rising of its pandemicity, several researches and R&D sectors are rushing as war like emergency for finding its specified preventive ways or medication.
54 english and 23 chines academic papers were already published by january and these are developing continuously.
v Favilavir: Fujifilm Toyama Chemical’s (Tokyo, Japan) flu drug Favilavir, which is currently being promoted with the label, Avigan, has become the first-ever antiviral medicine to be approved for use as a treatment for COVID-19 in China. The National Medical Products Administration of China has approved Favilavir for treating the now-declared pandemic illness after it appeared to be effective in coronavirus patients during clinical studies.
Favilavir, which has proven to be an effective antiviral drug for fighting RNA infections by inhibiting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or RdRp, is mainly used for treating influenza in Japan and China. According to medical authorities in China, Favipiravir had delivered encouraging outcomes in clinical trials of 340 coronavirus-infected patients in Wuhan and Shenzhen.
v Ramdesivir : On Jan,2020 some china researchers claim that Ramdesivir( sp isomer of 2ethyl butyl L-alaninate phoaphoramide) , a nucleoside analogue prodrug, shows hopeful response for inhibiting the virulence action. It,mainly, targets RNA dependent RNA polymarase(Rd Rp/nsp12) which is the central component of corona viral replication/transcription machinery.
v Camostatmesylate: It is claimed that Camostatmesylate is inhibitor of serine protease. Previously
It was said that how Transmembrane Protease Serin2 helps SARS CoV2 to enter the respiratory cells. So, naturally, this drug will proved as helpful in preventing of corona.
vHydroxychloroquine(HCQ): This anti malalrial drug is approved by US-FDA, shows a promising efficacy in case of symptomatic relief of COVID-19. More recently,this drug has been used to manage condition such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
vNitazoxanide: This broad spectrum antiparasitic and antiviral drug mainly used as medication of helmintic, protozoal infection. But now, it is found to hinder SARS CoV2 at low micromolar focuses in vitro. However, further investigations are required to establish its in vivo adequacy.
Corona virus vaccine is world fastest developing vaccine that ever made in medical history. 83+ companies including India are endeavoring to inovate specified vaccine against SARS CoV2.
vFusogenix DNA vaccine: Entos Pharmaceuticals is developing Fusogenix DNA vaccine developed using the Fusogenix drug delivery platform to prevent COVID-19 infections. Fusogenix drug delivery platform is a proteo-lipid vehicle that introduces genetic payload directly into the cells.
vGimsilumab: Roivant Sciences is advancing the development of Gimsilumab a clinical-stage, human monoclonal antibody. The drug targets granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine found in high levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients.
Targeting GM-CSF is expected to reduce lung damage and reduce mortality rate in COVID-19 patients.
vAdCOVID: Altimmune has collaborated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to develop a single dose intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 named AdCOVIDAltimmune and UAB will work with researchers to conduct preclinical animal studies and phase one clinical trial in the third quarter of 2020
v TJM2: I-Mab Biopharma is developed TJM2, a neutralising antibody, as a treatment for cytokine storm in patients suffering from a severe case of coronavirus infection. The drug targets the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which is responsible for acute and chronic inflammation.
vTZLS-501:Tiziana Life Sciences is developing its monoclonal antibody named TZLS-501 for the treatment of COVID-19. TZLS-501 is a human anti-interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), which helps in preventing lung damage and elevated levels of IL-6.
The drug works by binding to IL-6R and depleting the amount of IL-6 circulating in the body thereby reducing chronic lung inflammation.
vChAdOx1: This is the first corona vaccine which has been reached phase2 clinical trials(in human body).The University of Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is an adenovirus vaccine vector developed by the university’s Jenner Institute. The university is testing the vaccine in a clinical trial planned to be conducted in the Thames Valley Region.
Approximately 510 volunteers aged between 18 years and 55 years will be enrolled for the study
Now as an Indian we want to draw an attention on Indian research about finding the promising development of corona vaccine.
A researcher at University of Hyderabad (UoH) in India has designed potential Covid-19 vaccine candidates referred to as T-cell epitopes.
The vaccine candidates are small coronaviral peptides, molecules used by cells to induce an immune response against the virus.Dr Seema Mishra, a biochemistry department faculty member at the university’s School of Life Sciences, designed the candidates to act against all SARS-CoV-2 structural and non-structural proteins.Depending on how the candidates will be used by human cells against the virus, a ranked list has been generated.
As there are no matches in the human protein pool, these coronavirus epitopes are expected to have no cross-reactivity to human cells, indicating promise that the immune response will be against viral proteins but not human proteins.The university noted that the Covid-19 vaccine candidates are yet to be validated in-vitro. The research has been shared with the scientific community for experimental analysis.
l CONCLUSION:
From pre historic era, mankind faced several obstacles,prevention,vanquishers, but we were not slept away. we stood still to establishment and protect our existence.
Again, this pandemic illness will be defeated, our gray matter,our discerning, our effort will be victorious and secure our existence for sure
As we all known there is specified solution(s) behind every problems, one day COVID 19 will be remain only in a page of history.
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