Virus research
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) warrants comprehensive investigations of publicly available Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes to gain new insight about their epidemiology, mutations, and pathogenesis. Nearly 0.4 million mutations have been identified so far among the ∼60,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences. In this study, we compared a total of 371 SARS-CoV-2 published whole genomes reported from different parts of Bangladesh with 467 sequences reported globally to understand the origin of viruses, possible patterns of mutations, and availability of unique mutations. ⋯ Previously reported frequent mutations, such as R203K, D614G, G204R, P4715L and I300F at protein levels were also prevalent in Bangladeshi isolates. Additionally, 34 unique amino acid changes were revealed and categorized as originating from different cities. These analyses may increase our understanding of variations in SARS-CoV-2 virus genomes, circulating in Bangladesh and elsewhere.
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The first incidence of COVID-19 was reported in the Wuhan city of Hubei province in China in late December 2019. Because of failure in timely closing of borders of the affected region, COVID-19 spread across like a wildfire through air travel initiating a pandemic. It is a serious lower respiratory track viral infection caused by highly contagious, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). ⋯ Vitamin D is a key regulator of the renin-angiotensin system that is exploited by SARS-CoV-2 for entry into the host cells. Further, vitamin D modulates multiple mechanisms of the immune system to contain the virus that includes dampening the entry and replication of SARS-CoV-2, reduces concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, enhances the production of natural antimicrobial peptide and activates defensive cells such as macrophages that could destroy SARS-CoV-2. Thus, this article provides the urgency of needed evidences through large population based randomized controlled trials and ecological studies to evaluate the potential role of vitamin D in COVID-19.
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Comparative Study
Signal hotspot mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes evolve as the virus spreads and actively replicates in different parts of the world.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan, China late in 2019. Nine months later (Sept. 23, 2020), the virus has infected > 31.6 million people around the world and caused > 971.000 (3.07 %) fatalities in 220 countries and territories. Research on the genetics of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, its mutants and their penetrance can aid future defense strategies. ⋯ The increasing frequency of SARS-CoV-2 mutation hotspots might select for dangerous viral pathogens. Alternatively, in a 29.900 nucleotide-genome, there might be a limit to the number of mutable and selectable sites which, when exhausted, could prove disadvantageous to viral survival. The speed, at which novel SARS-CoV-2 mutants are selected and dispersed around the world, could pose problems for the development of vaccines and therapeutics.
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Innate and adaptive immune responses have been evaluated in infected patients with COVID-19. The severity of the disease has been supposed to be associated with some profile not reported with other bacterial and viral pneumonia. We proposed a study in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection to evaluate the interleukin patterns and its role as prognosis factors. ⋯ Our results suggest that the activation of the host immune response between Th1 or Th2 in COVID-19 infection may be related to the final result between discharge or death. This implies an attempt to control cytokines, such as IFN-γ, with combined therapies for clinical treatment.
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The rapid emergence of novel coronavirus, SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), originated from Wuhan, China, imposed a global health emergency. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor serves as an entry point for this deadly virus while the proteases like furin, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and 3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) are involved in the further processing and replication of SARS-CoV-2. The interaction of SP with ACE2 and these proteases results in the SARS-CoV-2 invasion and fast epidemic spread. ⋯ For 3CLPro, Compounds A_BR5, A_BR6, A_BR9 and A_BR18 exhibited high binding affinity, docking score and key residue interactions. Overall, A_BR18 and A_BR28 demonstrated multi-targeting potential against all the targets. Among these top-scoring molecules A_BR9, A_BR18, A_BR22 and A_BR28 were predicted to confer favorable ADME properties.