Recipients of COVID-19 vaccines face challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has been rampant since 2019, severely affecting global public health, and causing 5.75 million deaths worldwide. So far, many vaccines have been developed to prevent the infection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the emergence of new variants may threat vaccine recipients as they might evade immunological surveillance that depends on the using of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody to neutralize the viral particles. Recent studies have found that recipients who received two doses of vaccination plus an additional booster shoot were able to quickly elevate neutralization response and immune response against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus and some initially appeared viral variants. In this review, we assessed the real-world effectiveness of different COVID-19 vaccines by population studies and neutralization assays and compared neutralization responses of booster vaccines in vitro. Finally, as the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to decline over time, continued vaccination should be considered to achieve a long-term immune protection against coronavirus.     

Vaccines for COVID-19: perspectives from nucleic acid vaccines to BCG as delivery vector system

This article discusses standard and new disruptive strategies in the race to develop an anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We also included new bioinformatic data from our group mapping immunodominant epitopes and structural analysis of the spike protein. Another innovative approach reviewed here is the use of BCG vaccine as priming strategy and/or delivery system expressing SARS-CoV-2 antigens.     

mRNA vaccines for COVID-19: what,why and how

The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2), has impacted human lives in the most profound ways with millions of infections and deaths. Scientists and pharmaceutical companies have been in race to produce vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccine generation usually demands years of developing and testing for efficacy and safety. However, it only took less than one year to generate two mRNA vaccines from their development to deployment. The rapid production time, cost-effectiveness, versatility in vaccine design, and clinically proven ability to induce cellular and humoral immune response have crowned mRNA vaccines with spotlights as most promising vaccine candidates in the fight against the pandemic. In this review, we discuss the general principles of mRNA vaccine design and working mechanisms of the vaccines, and provide an up-to-date summary of pre-clinical and clinical trials on seven anti-COVID-19 mRNA candidate vaccines, with the focus on the two mRNA vaccines already licensed for vaccination. In addition, we highlight the key strategies in designing mRNA vaccines to maximize the expression of immunogens and avoid intrinsic innate immune response. We also provide some perspective for future vaccine development against COVID-19 and other pathogens.     

The significance of advanced COVID-19 diagnostic testing in pandemic control measures

During the 2 years since the start of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the scientific world made an enormous effort to fight against this disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has high transmissibility. Advancements in vaccine and treatment strategies have reduced both the hospitalization and mortality rates. However, the virus has shown its ability to evolve and evade from our COVID-19 combating armamentaria by the most common evolution mechanism—mutation. Diagnostic testing has been the first line of defense following the identification of the causative agent. Ever since, the scientific community has developed nuclei acid-based, antigen-based, and antibody-based diagnostic tests, and these testing methodologies are still playing a central role in slowing down viral transmission. These testing methods have different sensitivity and specificity and could be optimally used in areas facing different challenges owing to different level and conditions of COVID-19 outbreak. In this review, we discuss these testing methodologies as well as the considerations on how to apply these diagnostic tests optimally in the community to cope with the ever-changing pandemic conditions.     

Current advances in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now a global pandemic that has wreaked havoc globally, which has put a heavy toll on public health, lives, and the world economy. Vaccination is considered as one of the greatest successes in medical history. Based on prior experience with the development of SARS-CoV vaccines, all COVID-19 vaccines must be subjected to the tests for protective effects and harmful risks derived from antibody-dependent enhancement that may contribute to augmented infectivity and/or eosinophilic infiltration. The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is now being developed urgently in several different ways. China is regarded as one of the world''s leading countries in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development, up to date the last inactivated vaccine international clinical (Phase III) trial was launched in the United Arab Emirates by Sinopharm China National Biotec Group (CNBG). In this review, we outline the current status of vaccine development against clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 strains, anticipating that such attempts would help create efficacious and sage SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.     

间充质干细胞在新型冠状病毒肺炎治疗中的研究现状

新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)由新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)导致,可发生严重肺部损伤甚至死亡,目前为止仍在全球范围内广泛蔓延。SARS-CoV-2感染依赖于血管紧张素转换酶2(ACE2)和Ⅱ型跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶,可导致机体免疫紊乱,促发炎症风暴从而损伤靶器官。COVID-19目前尚无特效药物,间充质干细胞(MSCs)具有组织修复和免疫调节等功能,而且在流感病毒相关性肺炎及其他肺疾病中有一定疗效,因此可能是治疗COVID-19潜在有效药物。目前部分研究也显示出积极的治疗效果,而具体的疗效仍需进一步的临床研究来验证。     

An update comprehensive review on the status of COVID-19: vaccines,drugs, variants and neurological symptoms

Various recently reported mutant variants, candidate and urgently approved current vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many current situations with severe neurological damage and symptoms as well as respiratory tract disorders have begun to be reported. In particular, drug, vaccine, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been developed and are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Here, we review lessons learned from the use of novel mutant variants of the COVID-19 virus, immunization, new drug solutions, and antibody therapies for infections. Next, we focus on the B 1.1.7, B 1.351, P.1, and B.1.617 lineages or variants of concern that have been reported worldwide, the new manifestations of neurological manifestations, the current therapeutic drug targets for its treatment, vaccine candidates and their efficacy, implantation of convalescent plasma, and neutralization of mAbs. We review specific clinical questions, including many emerging neurological effects and respiratory tract injuries, as well as new potential biomarkers, new studies in addition to known therapeutics, and chronic diseases of vaccines that have received immediate approval. To answer these questions, further understanding of the burden kinetics of COVID-19 and its correlation with neurological clinical outcomes, endogenous antibody responses to vaccines, pharmacokinetics of neutralizing mAbs, and action against emerging viral mutant variants is needed.     

Advances in diagnostics,vaccines and therapeutics for Nipah virus

Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic paramyxovirus that causes severe and often fatal respiratory and neurological disease in humans. The virus was first discovered after an outbreak of encephalitis in pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore with subsequent outbreaks in Bangladesh or India occurring almost annually. Due to the highly pathogenic nature of NiV, its pandemic potential, and the lack of licensed vaccines or therapeutics, there is a requirement for research and development into highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools as well as antivirals and vaccines to help prevent and control future outbreak situations.     

新型冠状病毒感染相关嗅觉障碍的流行现状、机制和康复

新型冠状病毒感染（coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19）,下简称“新冠”,是由严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒2（severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2）引发的全球流行传染病。鉴于嗅觉障碍是其主要神经症状,明确相关流行现状、机制和康复对促进公共健康非常重要。文献报道的新冠相关嗅觉障碍的发生率存在差异,与评估工具、人群以及变异毒株3个因素有关。其中,不同毒株之间嗅觉障碍发生率的差异可能源于刺突糖蛋白和侵入方式的变异。在外周嗅觉系统,SARS-CoV-2主要引发嗅裂炎症、支持细胞死亡和宿主免疫反应,而关于SARS-CoV-2入侵中枢的途径和机制仍存争议。部分“长新冠”患者存在持续的嗅觉障碍,SARS-CoV-2诱发慢性炎症反应和对嗅上皮再生的破坏是其潜在的病理基础。根据嗅觉媒介假说,SARS-CoV-2可能借由嗅觉系统影响中枢功能并最终诱发神经退行性变。嗅觉训练、药物等方法可帮助新冠相关嗅觉障碍的康复。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎的诊断、治疗和预防

新型冠状病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19)是一种由严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)引发的传染病.此种病毒传染性强,患者感染后会出现严重的急性呼吸道感染症状,...     

A critical review on brain and heart axis response in COVID-19 patients: Molecular mechanisms,mediators, biomarkers,and therapeutics

Since the outbreak of highly virulent coronaviruses, significant interest was assessed to the brain and heart axis (BHA) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-affected patients. The majority of clinical reports accounted for unusual symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections which are of the neurological type, such as headache, nausea, dysgeusia, anosmia, and cerebral infarction. The SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptor. Patients with prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and it has related to various cardiovascular (CV) complications. Infected patients with pre-existing CVDs are also particularly exposed to critical health outcomes. Overall, COVID-19 affected patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) and exposed to stressful environmental constraints, featured with a cluster of neurological and CV complications. In this review, we summarized the main contributions in the literature on how SARS-CoV-2 could interfere with the BHA and its role in affecting multiorgan disorders. Specifically, the central nervous system involvement, mainly in relation to CV alterations in COVID-19-affected patients, is considered. This review also emphasizes the biomarkers and therapy options for COVID-19 patients presenting with CV problems.     

Development of leading first-generation vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 167 million individuals globally. Highly effective and safe vaccines are required to accelerate the development of herd immunity to end the pandemic. This review focuses on vaccines that are being developed at unprecedented speed globally and are completing late phase clinical trials to meet this urgent need.     

Seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Riyadh city during the early increase of COVID-19 infections in Saudi Arabia,June 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 and caused a global pandemic of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). More than 170 million cases have been reported worldwide with mortality rate of 1–3%. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular testing is limited to acute infections, therefore serological studies provide a better estimation of the virus spread in a population. This study aims to evaluate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the major city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the sharp increase of the pandemic, in June 2020. Serum samples from non-COVID patients (n = 432), patients visiting hospitals for other complications and confirmed negative for COVID-19, and healthy blood donors (n = 350) were collected and evaluated using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall percentage of positive samples was 7.80% in the combined two populations (n = 782). The seroprevalence was lower in the blood donors (6%) than non-COVID-19 patients (9.25%), p = 0.0004. This seroprevalence rate is higher than the documented cases, indicating asymptomatic or mild unreported COVID-19 infections in these two populations. This warrants further national sero-surveys and highlights the importance of real-time serological surveillance during pandemics.     

Multi-targeted molecular docking,pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness evaluation of coumarin based compounds targeting proteins involved in development of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a progressing pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019, which had drowned the whole world in a deep sorrow sea. Uncountable deaths were extending the list of deaths every single day. The present research was aimed to study the multi-target interaction of coumarins against COVID-19 using molecular docking analysis. The structure of coumarin compounds was checked for ADME and Lipinski rule of five by using SwissADME, an online tool. SARS-CoV-2 proteins such as RdRp, PLpro, Mpro and spike protein were collected from the Protein Data Bank. The molecular docking study was performed in the PyRx tool, and the molecular interactions were visualised by Discovery Studio Visualizer. All the coumarin compounds used in the study were obeyed Lipinski’s rule of 5 without any violations. All the three designed derivatives of phenprocoumon, hymecromone, and psoralen were showed high binding affinity and prominent interactions with the drug target. The presence of –OH groups in the compound, His41, a catalytic dyad in Mpro, number of and the distance of hydrogen bond interactions with SARS-CoV-2 targets was accountable for the high binding attractions. The modified drug structures possess better binding efficacy towards at least three targets compared to their parent compounds. Further, molecular dynamic studies can be suggested to find the ligand–protein complex stability. The present study outcome reveals that the designed coumarins can be synthesised and examined as a potent inhibitory drug of SARS-CoV-2.     

COVID-19检测技术的优点和局限性

由严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)感染引起的2019年冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19),其持续大流行已对世界公共卫生安全造成严重的危害。发展病毒检测技术并运用于卫生管理包括人员排查、患者鉴别与治疗、减缓病毒传播等方面已发挥了重要作用。本文简要概述了SARS-CoV-2生物学特征,对全球发展使用的SARS-CoV-2病毒主要检测技术和新兴发展检测技术进行了比较详尽的介绍,并对病毒检测技术进行了展望,以期为临床医疗诊断、公共卫生防护、疾病预防和控制等提供理论和技术帮助。     

COVID-19: Pathogenesis,cytokine storm and therapeutic potential of interferons

The outbreak of the novel SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has developed into an unprecedented global pandemic. Clinical investigations in patients with COVID-19 has shown a strong upregulation of cytokine and interferon production in SARS-CoV2- induced pneumonia, with an associated cytokine storm syndrome. Thus, the identification of existing approved therapies with proven safety profiles to treat hyperinflammation is a critical unmet need in order to reduce COVI-19 associated mortality. To date, no specific therapeutic drugs or vaccines are available to treat COVID-19 patients. This review evaluates several options that have been proposed to control SARS-CoV2 hyperinflammation and cytokine storm, eincluding antiviral drugs, vaccines, small-molecules, monoclonal antibodies, oligonucleotides, peptides, and interferons (IFNs).     

Humoral Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and the Impact on COVID-19 Pathogenesis

It has been more than a year since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first emerged. Many studies have provided insights into the various aspects of the immune response in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Especially for antibody treatment and vaccine development, humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has been studied extensively, though there is still much that is unknown and controversial. Here, we introduce key discoveries on the humoral immune responses in COVID-19, including the immune dynamics of antibody responses and correlations with disease severity, neutralizing antibodies and their cross-reactivity, how long the antibody and memory B-cell responses last, aberrant autoreactive antibodies generated in COVID-19 patients, and the efficacy of currently available therapeutic antibodies and vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, and highlight gaps in the current knowledge.