scholarly journals A Perspective on COVID-19 Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1586
Author(s):  
Krešimir Pavelić ◽  
Sandra Kraljević Pavelić ◽  
Bianca Brix ◽  
Nandu Goswami
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Data Variability ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Consequences Of Disease ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Selection Of

A novel coronavirus—Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)—outbreak correlated with the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared by the WHO in March 2020, resulting in numerous counted cases attributed to SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. Herein, we discuss current knowledge on the available therapy options for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Based on available scientific data, we present an overview of solutions in COVID-19 management by use of drugs, vaccines and antibodies. Many questions with non-conclusive answers on the measures for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on health still exist—i.e., the actual infection percentage of the population, updated precise mortality data, variability in response to infection by the population, the nature of immunity and its duration, vaccine development issues, a fear that science might end up with excessive promises in response to COVID-19—and were raised among scientists. Indeed, science may or may not deliver results in real time. In the presented paper we discuss some consequences of disease, its detection and serological tests, some solutions to disease prevention and management, pitfalls and obstacles, including vaccination. The presented ideas and data herein are meant to contribute to the ongoing debate on COVID-19 without pre-selection of available information.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 and Coronavirus Disease 2019: What We Know So Far

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firas A. Rabi ◽  
Mazhar S. Al Zoubi ◽  
Ghena A. Kasasbeh ◽  
Dunia M. Salameh ◽  
Amjad D. Al-Nasser
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Molecular Information ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

In December 2019, a cluster of fatal pneumonia cases presented in Wuhan, China. They were caused by a previously unknown coronavirus. All patients had been associated with the Wuhan Wholefood market, where seafood and live animals are sold. The virus spread rapidly and public health authorities in China initiated a containment effort. However, by that time, travelers had carried the virus to many countries, sparking memories of the previous coronavirus epidemics, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and causing widespread media attention and panic. Based on clinical criteria and available serological and molecular information, the new disease was called coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), and the novel coronavirus was called SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), emphasizing its close relationship to the 2002 SARS virus (SARS-CoV). The scientific community raced to uncover the origin of the virus, understand the pathogenesis of the disease, develop treatment options, define the risk factors, and work on vaccine development. Here we present a summary of current knowledge regarding the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes.

scholarly journals Molecular epidemiology of infections caused by group B Streptococcus in pregnant women and newborns, and development of preventive vaccines

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 62-73
Author(s):  
Vasilisa A. Vasilyeva ◽  
Elena V. Shipitsyna ◽  
Kira V. Shalepo ◽  
Alevtina M. Savicheva
Keyword(s):  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Group B Streptococci ◽  
Group B ◽  
Sequence Types ◽  
Experimental Immunization ◽  
Selection Of

Hypothesis/aims of study. The present analysis was undertaken to summarize current knowledge about molecular properties of group B streptococci (GBS), emphasizing potential targets of vaccines against neonatal GBS infection. Study design, materials, and methods. This review is based on articles published mainly in the last ten years. Results. Epidemiological data on serotypes, multilocus sequence types, clonal complexes of GBS and their relationship are presented. Genetic events in GBS populations indicate significant obstacles to vaccine development. We described key properties of major GBS virulence factors, such as capsular polysaccharide, pili, and cell adhesion molecules, as well as results of experimental immunization on their basis. Conclusion. The population of invasive GBS strains is molecularly and genetically heterogeneous, which complicates selection of vaccine targets. Capsular switching, a low level of immunogenicity and variability of population composition are the most important factors that necessitate the accumulation and monitoring of molecular epidemiological data.

Enterovirus D-68 Molecular Virology, Epidemiology, and Treatment: an update and way forward

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Ahmed Ebada ◽  
Notila Fayed ◽  
Souad Alkanj ◽  
Ahmed Wadaa Allah
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Molecular Virology ◽  
Acute Flaccid Myelitis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Enterovirus D68

: Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus, and it is one of the family Picornaviridae. Except for EV-D68, the family Picornaviridae has been illustrated in literature. EV-D68 was first discovered and isolated in California, USA, in 1962. EV-D68 has resulted in respiratory disorders’ outbreaks among children worldwide, and it has been detected in cases of various neurological diseases such as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). A recent study documented a higher number of EV-D68 cases associated with AFM in Europe in 2016 compared to the 2014 outbreak. EV-D68 is mainly diagnosed by quantitative PCR, and there is an affirmative strategy for EV-D68 detection by using pan-EV PCR on the untranslated region and/or the VP1 or VP2, followed by sequencing of the PCR products. Serological tests are limited due to cross-reactivity of the antigens between the different serotypes. Many antiviral drugs for EV-D68 have been evaluated, and showed promising results. In our review, we discuss the current knowledge about EV-D68 and its role in the development of AFM.

Magnetoencephalography and the Cortical Dynamics of Language Processing

2019 ◽  
pp. 114-153
Author(s):  
Riitta Salmelin ◽  
Jan Kujala ◽  
Mia Liljeström
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Language Disorders ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Neural Processing ◽  
Powerful Method ◽  
Cortical Dynamics ◽  
Brain Correlates ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Selection Of

When seeking to uncover the brain correlates of language processing, timing and location are of the essence. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) offers them both, with the highest sensitivity to cortical activity. MEG has shown its worth in revealing cortical dynamics of reading, speech perception, and speech production in adults and children, in unimpaired language processing as well as developmental and acquired language disorders. The MEG signals, once recorded, provide an extensive selection of measures for examination of neural processing. Like all other neuroimaging tools, MEG has its own strengths and limitations of which the user should be aware in order to make the best possible use of this powerful method and to generate meaningful and reliable scientific data. This chapter reviews MEG methodology and how MEG has been used to study the cortical dynamics of language.

scholarly journals Role of Laboratory Medicine in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics. Lessons Learned from a Pandemic

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Irena Duś-Ilnicka ◽  
Aleksander Szymczak ◽  
Małgorzata Małodobra-Mazur ◽  
Miron Tokarski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Medical Diagnostic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Available Information

Since the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, diagnostic methods in the field of molecular biology have been developing faster than ever under the vigilant eye of world’s research community. Unfortunately, the medical community was not prepared for testing such large volumes or ranges of biological materials, whether blood samples for antibody immunological testing, or salivary/swab samples for real-time PCR. For this reason, many medical diagnostic laboratories have made the switch to working in the field of molecular biology, and research undertaken to speed up the flow of samples through laboratory. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the current literature on laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection available on pubmed.gov, Google Scholar, and according to the writers’ knowledge and experience of the laboratory medicine. It assesses the available information in the field of molecular biology by comparing real-time PCR, LAMP technique, RNA sequencing, and immunological diagnostics, and examines the newest techniques along with their limitations for use in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.

scholarly journals Cysteine Cathepsins and Their Prognostic and Therapeutic Relevance in Leukemia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohit Arora ◽  
Garima Pandey ◽  
Shyam S. Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Hematological Malignancies ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cysteine Cathepsins ◽  
Expression Activity ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Antigen Processing And Presentation ◽  
Selection Of

AbstractCysteine cathepsins are lysosomal proteases that require Cys-His ion pair in their catalytic site for enzymatic activity. While their aberrant expression and oncogenic functions have been widely reported in solid tumors, recent findings suggest that these proteases also play an important role in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. In this review, we summarize the potential clinical implications of cysteine cathepsins as diagnostic and prognostic markers in leukemia, and present evidences which supports the utility of these proteases as potential therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. We also highlight the available information on the expression patterns, regulation, and potential functions of cysteine cathepsins in normal hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies. In hematopoiesis, cysteine cathepsins play a variety of physiological roles including regulation of hematopoietic stem cell adhesion in the bone marrow, trafficking, and maturation. They are also involved in several functions of immune cells which include the selection of lymphocytes in the thymus, antigen processing, and presentation. However, the expression of cysteine cathepsins is dysregulated in hematological malignancies where they have been shown to play diverse functions. Interestingly, several pieces of evidence over the past few years have demonstrated overexpression of cathepsins in leukemia and their association with worst survival outcomes in patients. Strategies aimed at altering the expression, activity, and subcellular localization of these cathepsins are emerging as potential therapeutic modalaties in the management of hematological malignancies. Recent findings also suggest the involvement of these proteases in modulating the immune response in leukemia and lymphomas.

scholarly journals New Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG Expression Vectors: Improving Genetic Control over Mycobacterial Promoters

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 2240-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex I. Kanno ◽  
Cibelly Goulart ◽  
Henrique K. Rofatto ◽  
Sergio C. Oliveira ◽  
Luciana C. C. Leite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Bovis ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Expression Vectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mycobacteriophage L5 ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACTThe expression of many antigens, stimulatory molecules, or even metabolic pathways in mycobacteria such asMycobacterium bovisBCG orM. smegmatiswas made possible through the development of shuttle vectors, and several recombinant vaccines have been constructed. However, gene expression in any of these systems relied mostly on the selection of natural promoters expected to provide the required level of expression by trial and error. To establish a systematic selection of promoters with a range of strengths, we generated a library of mutagenized promoters through error-prone PCR of the strong PL5promoter, originally from mycobacteriophage L5. These promoters were cloned upstream of the enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene, and recombinantM. smegmatisbacteria exhibiting a wide range of fluorescence levels were identified. A set of promoters was selected and identified as having high (pJK-F8), intermediate (pJK-B7, pJK-E6, pJK-D6), or low (pJK-C1) promoter strengths in bothM. smegmatisandM. bovisBCG. The sequencing of the promoter region demonstrated that it was extensively modified (6 to 11%) in all of the plasmids selected. To test the functionality of the system, two different expression vectors were demonstrated to allow corresponding expression levels of theSchistosoma mansoniantigen Sm29 in BCG. The approach used here can be used to adjust expression levels for synthetic and/or systems biology studies or for vaccine development to maximize the immune response.

Selection of rotavirus VP7 gene in the genetic background of simian rotavirus SA11: implications for rotavirus reassortant vaccine development

1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kobayashi ◽  
J. Okada ◽  
K. Taniguchi ◽  
T. Urasawa ◽  
S. Urasawa
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Background ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Vp7 Gene

scholarly journals Insights into Cross-species Evolution of Novel Human Coronavirus 2019-nCoV and Defining Immune Determinants for Vaccine Development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunachalam Ramaiah ◽  
Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami
Keyword(s):  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Synonymous Mutations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
N Proteins

ABSTRACTNovel Coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China during December 2019, has now spread to various countries across the globe triggering a heightened containment effort. This human pathogen is a member of betacoronavirus genus carrying 30 kilobase of single positive-sense RNA genome. Understanding the evolution, zoonotic transmission, and source of this novel virus would help accelerating containment and prevention efforts. The present study reported detailed analysis of 2019-nCoV genome evolution and potential candidate peptides for vaccine development. This nCoV genotype might have been evolved from a bat-CoV by accumulating non-synonymous mutations, indels, and recombination events. Structural proteins Spike (S), and Membrane (M) had extensive mutational changes, whereas Envelope (E) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins were very conserved suggesting differential selection pressures exerted on 2019-nCoV during evolution. Interestingly, 2019-nCoV Spike protein contains a 39 nucleotide sequence insertion relative to SARS-like bat-SL-CoVZC45/2017. Furthermore, we identified eight high binding affinity (HBA) CD4 T-cell epitopes in the S, E, M and N proteins, which can be commonly recognized by HLA-DR alleles of Asia and Asia-Pacific Region population. These immunodominant epitopes can be incorporated in universal subunit CoV vaccine. Diverse HLA types and variations in the epitope binding affinity may contribute to the wide range of immunopathological outcomes of circulating virus in humans. Our findings emphasize the requirement for continuous surveillance of CoV strains in live animal markets to better understand the viral adaptation to human host and to develop practical solutions to prevent the emergence of novel pathogenic CoV strains.

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