Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
-
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2020
COVID-19: Understanding the science of antibody testing and lessons from the HIV epidemic.
Potential pitfalls in the development, deployment and interpretation of antibody tests for COVID-19 are discussed. Lessons learned from the experience with the introduction of antibody tests for HIV are highlighted. Each test will need to be separately vetted for performance and clinical implementation based upon rigorous clinical trial data. The issues we highlight will also be similarly important for vaccine and therapeutic drug efficacy trials.
-
Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. · Sep 2020
ReviewClinical, molecular, and epidemiological characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a comprehensive literature review.
Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. The current classification of coronaviruses recognizes 39 species in 27 subgenera that belong to the family Coronaviridae. From those, at least 7 coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. ⋯ Latest figures from 20 May 2020 show more than 5 million people had been infected with the virus, causing more than 330,000 deaths in over 210 countries worldwide. The large amount of information received daily relating to COVID-19 is so abundant and dynamic that medical staff, health authorities, academics and the media are not able to keep up with this new pandemic. In order to offer a clear insight of the extensive literature available, we have conducted a comprehensive literature review of the SARS CoV-2 Virus and the Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19).