Impact of co-morbidities in COVID -19 infected patients

Background- During the COVID- 19 pandemic in the first wave, infected patients age was range from 4 weeks to 90 years and those who have more age and with comorbidities are more susceptible to develop serious illness and have high mortality rates. Objective-To study the association between survivor vs non survivor on the basis of demographic profile and high risk factors. Material & methods: This study was done in the Government Medical College, Kannauj on the COVID-19 patients who were admitted in the isolation wards, from 1st September 2020 to December 31st 2020. Statistical Analysis- Analysis was done using SPSS- 23 trial version software. Results: case fatality rate was 2.7% in this study. Most common symptoms was cough (61.0%) and among these admitted patients the most common comorbidities was hypertension (26.7%), followed by diabetes (20.7%), and COPD (14.0%) respectively. Platelets (< 0.02), post prandial blood sugar (PPBS) (< 0.01) have significant role in survivability of COVID- 19 patients. Conclusion: This study concludes that those patients who were older in age and with comorbidity especially (hypertension, COPD, high PPBS, High platelets) have poorer prognosis as compare to those without.

Potential risk of brain damage and poor developmental outcomes in children prenatally exposed to sars-cov-2: a systematic review / Risco potencial de danos cerebrais e de alterações de desenvolvimento em crianças expostas ao sars-cov-2 no período pré-natal: uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Objective: To perform a systematic literature review to analyze existing data on the neurological effects of coronavirus on newborns. Data sources: We followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P), and searched the PubMed and Embase platforms for the keywords [brain damage OR pregnancy OR developmental outcomes] and [coronavirus OR SARS-CoV-2 OR SARS-CoV OR MERS-CoV] between January 1, 2000 and June 1, 2020. Data synthesis: Twenty-three reports described the course of pregnant women exposed to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, or MERS-CoV during the gestational period, eight to SARS-CoV-2, eight to SARS-CoV, and seven to MERS-CoV. No data were found on abnormalities in brain development or on a direct link between the virus and neurological abnormalities in the human embryo, fetus, or children. Spontaneous miscarriage, stillbirth, and termination of pregnancy were some complications connected with SARS/MERS-CoV infection. SARS-CoV-2 is not currently associated with complications in the gestational period. Conclusions: The literature has no data associating exposure to coronavirus during pregnancy with brain malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, despite the lack of reports, monitoring the development of children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 is essential given the risk of complications in pregnant women and the potential neuroinvasive and neurotropic properties found in previous strains.

RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura para analisar os dados existentes sobre os efeitos neurológicos do coronavírus em recém-nascidos. Fontes de dados: Esta revisão seguiu as diretrizes dos Principais Itens para Relatar Revisões Sistemáticas e Meta-Análises (Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review - PRISMA) e dos Protocolos dos Principais Itens para Relatar Revisões Sistemáticas e Meta-Análises (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols - PRISMA-P), pesquisando as plataformas PubMed e Embase pelas palavras-chave [brain damage (dano cerebral) OU pregnancy (gravidez) OU developmental outcomes (alterações de desenvolvimento)] e [coronavirus (coronavírus) OU SARS-CoV-2 OU SARS-CoV OU MERS-CoV] entre 1º de janeiro de 2000 e 1º de junho de 2020. Síntese dos dados: Vinte e três relatos descreveram a evolução de mulheres grávidas expostas ao SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV ou MERS-CoV durante o período gestacional, oito ao SARS-CoV-2, oito ao SARS-CoV e sete ao MERS-CoV. Não foram encontrados dados sobre anormalidades no desenvolvimento cerebral ou sobre uma ligação direta entre o vírus e alterações neurológicas no embrião, feto ou crianças. Abortamento espontâneo, morte fetal e interrupção da gravidez foram algumas das complicações relacionadas à infecção por SARS/MERS-CoV. Até o momento, o SARS-CoV-2 não está associado a complicações no período gestacional. Conclusões: Não há dados na literatura que associem a exposição ao coronavírus durante a gravidez com malformações cerebrais e distúrbios do neurodesenvolvimento. No entanto, apesar da falta de relatos, o monitoramento do desenvolvimento de crianças expostas ao SARS-CoV-2 é essencial devido ao risco de complicações em gestantes e às potenciais propriedades neuroinvasivas e neurotrópicas encontradas em cepas anteriores.

Ethnological aspects of COVID-19

Abstract Within recent past, coronavirus has shaken the whole world. The world faced a new pandemic of novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19).It has socioeconomically impacted world population a lot in terms of education, economy as well as physical and mental health. This novel coronavirus is notorious enough that put human health at a great risk. Currently, researchers all over the world aretrying hard to develop a new drug/vaccine for its treatment. In past decades, the world population has faced various viral infectious illness outbreaks. Influenza A, Ebola, Zika, SARS and MERS viruses had whacked public health and economy. Medical science technology achieved the landmark in developing coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines that are approved currently for emergency use. Some of the recently approved vaccines are developed by Pfizer and Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Gam-COVID-vac (Sputnik V), Bharat Biotech (covaxin) andOxford-AstraZeneca vaccines (covishield) (Badenet al., 2021). Here, a short review is drafted focusingon infection, immune system, pathogenesis, phylogenesis, mode of transmission and impact of coronavirus on health and economy and recent developments in treating COVID-19

Advances in peptidomimetic inhibitors of coronavirus main protease / 药学学报

Coronavirus (CoVs) is a widespread pathogen that can infect humans and animals to cause serious acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Among them, SARS-CoV broke out in 2003, MERS-CoV was discovered and spread widely in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 emerged at the end of 2019. They all belong to β-coronavirus. Peptidomimetic inhibitors targeting coronavirus main proteases (Mpro, 3CLpro) have attracted much attention because of their broad spectrum and strong antiviral efficacy. In this review, peptidomimetic inhibitors of coronavirus main protease were classified and summarized according to the different "warheads" in design strategy. And also, the molecular structures, biological activity and design ideas of the inhibitors were analyzed and discussed, which is aimed to provide useful reference for further design and development of coronavirus inhibitors.

Emergencia de sars-cov-2. aspectos básicos sobre su origen, epidemiología, estructura y patogenia para clínicos / Emerging sars-cov-2. basic information about epidemiology, origin source, structure and pathogenicity of sars-cov-2 for clinicians

SARS-CoV-2 es el tercer coronavirus que emerge en las últimas dos décadas y produce la enfermedad denominada COVID-19 (enfermedad infecciosa por coronavirus 2019). Ha demostrado ser fácilmente transmisible entre humanos con una rápida diseminación mundial y declarada como pandemia el 11 de marzo 2020. A la fecha ha causado millones de casos y muertes, disrupción de servicios sanitarios y severas consecuencias sociales, económicas y políticas en todos los países. Los estudios filogenéticos lo relacionan con SARS-CoV presentes en murciélagos. Comparte características de patogenicidad con sus parientes más cercanos, SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV. 15 a 20% de los afectados presentan cuadros graves. A la fecha no se cuenta con antivirales efectivos ni vacunas. Para un adecuado control se hace imprescindible dilucidar aspectos epidemiológicos, moleculares y de patogenicidad. En esta revisión se presenta información básica sobre epidemiología, origen, estructura y patogenia de SARS-CoV-2. i:es

SARS-CoV-2 is the third coronavirus emerging in the last two decades producing a disease denominated COVID-19 (infectious disease by coronavirus 2019). It has demostrated to be easily transmisible between humans with a fast world wide dissemination and declared a pandemia in March 11, 2020. Up to date it has caused millions of cases, deaths, disruptions in medical services and severe social, political and economic consecuences, all around the globe. Phylogenetic studies relate it to SARS-CoV present in bats. It shares pathogenic characteristics with its close relatives, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. 15 to 20% of the patients develop a severe clinical course. Up to date there are no effective antiviral drugs or vaccines. For an adecuate control it is essential to learn about epidemiological, pathogenic and molecular aspects. In this review some basic information about epidemiology, origin source, structure and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 is presented. i:en

Transfusión de plasma convaleciente de pacientes con COVID-19 / Transfusion of convalescent plasma from patients with COVID -19

RESUMEN Actualmente no existe vacuna disponible ni medicación específica contra la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). El tratamiento se basa fundamentalmente en medidas de soporte. En este contexto, se han aprobado múltiples terapias de potencial utilidad para su uso en ensayos clínicos, como la transfusión de plasma convaleciente (TPC). Se realizó una búsqueda en PubMed de estudios sobre plasma convaleciente y COVID-19, SARS o MERS. Los estudios sobre la eficacia clínica en enfermedades causadas por otros coronavirus (SARS-CoV y MERS-CoV) evidenciaron mejoría clínica, aumento de anticuerpos neutralizantes, disminución de la mortalidad y ausencia de eventos adversos durante y después del tratamiento. En el caso de la COVID-19, se encontraron 13 estudios en pacientes con la COVID-19 grave y crítica. Aunque existen limitaciones en la metodología, en el número de pacientes y en los protocolos para el análisis del plasma convaleciente de los donantes, los pacientes que recibieron TPC evidenciaron mejoría clínica, mejoría de patrones ventilatorios, resolución de lesiones pulmonares, disminución de mortalidad, mejoría de parámetros laboratoriales, aumento de anticuerpos neutralizantes, disminución de carga viral y baja frecuencia de eventos adversos.

ABSTRACT There is currently no vaccine available and no specific medication against Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19). The treatment is mainly based on support measures. In this context, several potentially useful therapies have been approved for use in clinical trials, such as convalescent plasma transfusion (CPT). PubMed was searched for studies on convalescent plasma and COVID-19, SARS or MERS. Studies on clinical efficacy in diseases caused by other coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) showed clinical improvement, increase of neutralizing antibodies, decreased mortality and absence of adverse events during and after treatment. We found 13 studies on this type of treatment used in patients with severe and critical COVID-19. Despite limitations regarding methodology, number of patients and the protocols for the analysis of donors' convalescent plasma, patients who received CPT showed clinical improvement, improvement of ventilatory patterns, resolution of lung injuries, decreased mortality, improvement of laboratory parameters, increase of neutralizing antibodies, decreased viral load and low frequency of adverse events.

¿Qué lecciones nos dejará el covid-19?: Historia de los nuevos coronavirus / What lessons will the covid-19 leave us? History of the new coronaviruses

Los coronavirus han estado presentes entre los humanos hace décadas, causando entre el 10 - 30% de los resfríos comunes en los humanos. Dos coronavirus han causado pandemias y alertas globales en las últimas décadas: SARS-CoV Y MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 es el séptimo coronavirus en generar una infección en humanos, y el tercero en generar una pandemia. En este artículo, presentamos y comparamos la cronología, epidemiología y las medidas de control de cada una de las pandemias: SARS, MERS y COVID-19. (AU)

Coronaviruses have been present in humans for decades, causing 10-30% of common colds in humans. Two coronaviruses have caused global pandemics and alerts in recent decades: SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh coronavirus to generate an infection in humans, and the third to generate a pandemic. In this article, we present and compare the chronology, epidemiology, and control measures of each of the pandemics: SARS, MERS and COVID-19. (AU)

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus 2019: current updates and the future

COVID-19 is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. It is large, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus. The clinical features range from the common cold to more severe diseases i.e., MERS and SARS. Incubation period ranges between 1-12.5 days (median 5-6 days). As on 07 March, 2020 total confirmed cases are 1,01,927 with 3486 deaths in 93 countries/territories/areas. The various lab tests for COVID-19 virus are NAAT, serological testing, viral sequencing and viral culture. Many aspects of this virus is still not understood. The authors in this article describe studies to know the pathogenesis as well as immunological response with use of animal methods. Authors also discuss genetic engineering, evaluation of activation and inflammatory activity of myeloid cells during pathogenic human coronavirus, etc. that can help in prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in near future.

COVID-19: The outbreak caused by a new coronavirus / COVID-19: la epidemia causada por un nuevo coronavirus

Abstract Before the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, coronaviruses (CoVs) were not considered to be highly pathogenic to humans. However, it was this epidemic that highlighted this group of viruses and included them among the causative agents of emerging epidemic diseases. In addition, in 2012, another new CoV responsible for the Middle East respiratory syndrome was identified. Both infections were considered a threat to global health security. At present, the third epidemic caused by a CoV is being faced. This new CoV, called 2019-nCoV, was originated in the city of Wuhan, China, and has been linked to severe respiratory infections in humans. Thanks to the collaboration of experts worldwide, more information about this virus and its infection is reported each day, which allows modifying the recommendations for its prevention and treatment, without forgetting that the ultimate goal is to control this epidemic. In this review, the important aspects of this new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, and its disease, COVID-19, have been summarized with the information available up to February 2020.

Resumen Previo al brote del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave de 2003, los coronavirus (CoV) no eran considerados como agentes altamente patogénicos para los humanos. Sin embargo, fue dicha epidemia la que destacó este grupo de virus y lo incluyó entre los agentes causantes de enfermedades epidémicas emergentes. Adicionalmente, en 2012 se identificó un nuevo CoV causante del síndrome respiratorio de Oriente Medio. Ambas infecciones fueron consideradas una amenaza para la seguridad sanitaria mundial. Hoy en día se presenta la tercera epidemia causada por un CoV. Este nuevo CoV, llamado 2019-nCoV, se originó en la ciudad de Wuhan, China, y ha sido relacionado con infecciones respiratorias graves en humanos. Gracias a la colaboración de expertos en todo el mundo, cada día se logra obtener más información sobre este virus y la infección que causa, lo cual permite modificar las recomendaciones para su prevención y tratamiento sin olvidar que el fin último es lograr el control de la epidemia. En esta revisión se resumen los aspectos más importantes acerca del nuevo 2019-nCoV y la enfermedad COVID-19, con la información disponible hasta febrero de 2020.

Recomendaciones odontológicas en la pandemia COVID-19: revisión narrativa / Dental recommendations in the COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad por coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) es un problema mundial de salud pública debido a su morbimortalidad, especialmente en grupos de riesgo. El entorno odontológico tiene un alto riesgo de transmisión viral, por ello el objetivo de este estudio fue identificar recomendaciones para la atención odontológica durante esta pandemia. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda de evidencia científica publicada desde 2002 hasta el 23 de marzo de 2020 en bases de datos electrónicas (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane y Epistemonikos) y en las páginas electrónicas de la Asociación Dental Americana, de Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oral Health, del Ministerio de Salud de Chile y de sociedades científicas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron nueve artículos publicados, en los cuales se recomienda el uso irrestricto de elementos de protección personal, preferir técnicas radiográficas extraorales, uso de enjuagues bucales con peróxido de hidrógeno al 1% o povidona yodada al 0,2%, técnica a cuatro manos con aspiración constante y uso de suturas reabsorbibles. Además, existe consenso respecto a que durante los periodos de transmisión comunitaria se deben posponer los tratamientos odontológicos no urgentes. CONCLUSIONES: Debido al alto riesgo de infección cruzada que presentan los equipos odontológicos, deben implementarse recomendaciones basadas en la mejor evidencia disponible, con el fin de preservar la salud de los miembros del equipo y de la población a su cuidado.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a world public health problem due to its morbidity and mortality, especially in at-risk groups. The dental environment has a high risk of viral transmission; accordingly, this study aimed to identify recommendations based on the best available evidence for dental care during this pandemic. METHODS: We performed a search for scientific evidence published since 2002 to March 23th 2020 in electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Epistemonikos) and the web pages of the American Dental Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oral Health, the Ministry of Health in Chile and scientific societies. RESULTS: We included nine published studies. The recommendations were the following: unrestricted use of personal protection elements, use of extraoral radiographic techniques, use of mouth rinses with 1% hydrogen peroxide or 0.2% iodine povidone, a four-hand technique with ongoing aspiration and the use of absorbable sutures. Furthermore, there is a consensus that non-urgent treatments should be postponed during periods of community transmission. CONCLUSIONS: Dental practitioners are exposed to a high risk of cross-infection, meaning they must implement recommendations based on the best available evidence to preserve the health of team members and the population they are caring for.

Implicaciones hepáticas en la pandemia por COVID-19 / Liver implications during the COVID-19 Pandemic

La infección generada por el coronavirus, denominado SARS-CoV-2, llamada coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), surgió en China a finales de diciembre de 2019. Actualmente ha sido categorizada como una pandemia por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Se han documentado alteraciones de pruebas hepáticas, sin embargo, los estudios se han enfocado en los efectos cardíacos, pulmonares y renales de esta infección. La alteración de pruebas hepáticas en el contexto de COVID-19 puede ser consecuencia de hepatitis viral, toxicidad farmacológica, inflamación o choque. También se considera como un marcador de pronóstico y gravedad de la enfermedad. El impacto de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con enfer-medad hepática preexistente o receptores de trasplante hepático no es claro, y se plantean distintas hipótesis sobre mayor o menor riesgo de enfermedad grave y de descompensación de la enfermedad de base.(AU)

The infection generated by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged late December of 2019 in China. It is currently categorized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Studies have focused on cardiac, pulmonary, and renal effects of this infection, but liver test abnormalities have also been documented. This alteration may be a consequence of viral hepatitis, phar-macological toxicity, inflammation, or shock. It is also considered a marker of prognosis and severity of the disease. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with pre-existing liver disease or liver transplant recipients is unclear, and different hypotheses exist regarding the higher or lower risk of severe disease and decompensation of the underlying disease.

Prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical laboratories: implementation of contingency plan and postpandemic response strategies / 南方医科大学学报

The outbreak of COVID-19 has currently been under control in China, but now the disease has rapidly evolved into a global pandemic. We formulated a prevention and control plan for clinical laboratories responsible for detection of the novel coronavirus infection. We analyzed the implementation of this plan and the problems arising from its clinical practice. We found that the layout of most clinical laboratories (including gene amplification laboratories for clinical samples) was inadequate in response to a major outbreak and did not meet the requirements for biosafety protection and etiology and serology testing; and laboratory staff showed insufficiencies in their awareness regarding biosafety protection; the functions and status of the laboratory in the fever clinic need to be enhanced to increase its detection capacity; the high density of military personnel, the low level of automation of clinical laboratory equipment, and the lack of biosafety cabinets and personal protective equipment all limit the performance of diverse military operations and major overseas missions. In view of these problems, we propose the following strategies and recommendations: the clinical laboratory needs to standardize the design and staff management according to the standards of P2 laboratory; the detection capacity and staffing of fever clinic laboratory in hospitals need to be strengthened, and a separate clinical gene amplification laboratory can be optimal; for those clinical gene amplification laboratories that fail to meet these standards, reconstruction and upgrade should be made according to the requirements of biosafety protection; for the clinical laboratory in the military medical system, in addition to enforcement of biological safety protection of the staff, sufficient supply of medical materials and biological safety equipment should be ensured and biological safety cabinets should be routinely equipped if possible.

Research progress on small molecule inhibitors of coronaviruses / 药学实践杂志

Coronavirus infection seriously threatens human health. There is no specific medication or vaccine so far. In recent years, domestic and foreign researchers have developed a variety of small-molecule inhibitors against the ligand S protein, RdRp, PLpro and 3CLpro of three highly pathogenic coronavirus, SARS-CoV，MERS-CoV，SARS-CoV-2. This article reviews the characteristics of these coronaviruses, action targets, small molecule inhibitors, and structure-activity relationships.

Molecular immune pathogenesis and diagnosis of COVID-19 / 药物分析学报

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a kind of viral pneumonia which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has been marked as the third introduction of a highly pathogenic coronavirus into the human population after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coro-navirus (MERS-CoV) in the twenty-first century. In this minireview, we provide a brief introduction of the general features of SARS-CoV-2 and discuss current knowledge of molecular immune pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 on the base of the present understanding of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infections, which may be helpful in offering novel insights and potential therapeutic targets for combating the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Progress in SARS and MERS vaccines: lessons for the development of COVID-19 vaccine / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Safe and effective vaccines are urgently needed to prevent and control the outbreak of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Here we summarized the current progress and problems in the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV in order to provide reference for COVID-19 vaccine development.

Highly pathogenic coronaviruses: thrusting vaccine development in the spotlight

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) has caused major public health crises. There have been more than 4,400,000 reported cases of COVID-2019 and more than 300,000 reported deaths to date (16/05/2020). SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have attracted widespread global attention due to their high infectivity and pathogenicity. To date, there is no specific treatment proven effective against these viral infectious diseases. Vaccination is considered one of the most effective strategies to prevent viral infections. Therefore, the development of effective vaccines against highly pathogenic coronaviruses is essential. In this review, we will briefly describe coronavirus vaccine design targets, summarize recent advances in the development of coronavirus vaccines, and highlight current adjuvants for improving the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines.

Review and Prospect of Pathological Features of Corona Virus Disease / 法医学杂志

Since 2003, coronavirus has caused multiple major public health events that resulted in global epidemics, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome （SARS）, Middle East respiratory syndrome （MERS） and corona virus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. Especially since COVID-19 outbroke in Wuhan, Hubei, in December 2019, coronavirus has had a significant impact on people's health and lives. But so far, the pathological diagnosis of COVID-19 has been relatively deficient： it is still confined to the pathological findings of punctured organs, and the majority of medical workers have poor awareness of its pathological characteristics. The COVID-19, as same as SARS and MERS, is caused by coronaviruses and can cause viral pneumonia. They have certain similarities. This article comprehensively reviews the pathological features observed in the autopsies of the aforementioned three diseases, in order to provide reference to the analysis of pathological changes of COVID-19.

Research Progress in Coronavirus and its Therapeutic Drugs / 中国药学杂志

Beginning at the end of 2019, corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) caused by sevare acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China, and spread rapidly across the country. Prior to this, there had been two outbreaks in the world that caused serious consequences by different coronaviruses: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This article introduces the structure and classification of coronaviruses, discusses the origin, virological characteristics, and epidemiological overview of three coronaviruses-SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, and reviews the drugs that are currently on the market and are being developed to treat coronavirus infections, in order to explain the characteristics of coronavirus and provide new ideas for the prevention and control of 2019-nCoV and new coronavirus.

Current status and bottlenecks of global pharmaceutical developments against COVID-19 / 中国药理学通报

The outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in February 2003 in Guangdong, China, middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) in September2012 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the current COVID-19 pandemics in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, are all caused by coronaviruses, and patients primarily died of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Compared with more than 5 years of wreaking havoc from MERS-CoV and Ebor, China successfully contains the SARS-CoV within one year, which shows her advantages in political governance controlling such pandemics. Many coronaviruses have been separated and their molecular structures analyzed. However, there is no specific anti-coronavirus drug developed in the world since the outbreaks. The problems come from not only pharmaceutical technology per se that must treat both coronaviruses and their life-threatening ARDS, but also the small size of patients who could immune against the coronaviruses after infections resulting in pharmaceutical reluctance to invest in the area. Facing both the pharmaceutical and social-economic bottlenecks, here, we summarized the current development of anti-coronavirus drugs, and proposed the strategies of repurposing existing drugs and preparing their pharmacological combinations to fight the viruses including COVID-19 based on a well-understanding of how the coronaviruses enter the host and damage our respiratory system.

Discovery of human coronaviruses pan-papain-like protease inhibitors using computational approaches / 药物分析学报

The papain-like protease (PLpro) is vital for the replication of coronaviruses (CoVs), as well as for escaping innate-immune responses of the host. Hence, it has emerged as an attractive antiviral drug-target. In this study, computational approaches were employed, mainly the structure-based virtual screening coupled with all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to computationally identify specific inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PLpro, which can be further developed as potential pan-PLpro based broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. The sequence, structure, and functional con-serveness of most deadly human CoVs PLpro were explored, and it was revealed that functionally important catalytic triad residues are well conserved among SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The subsequent screening of a focused protease in-hibitors database composed of ～7,000 compounds resulted in the identification of three candidate compounds, ADM_13083841, LMG_15521745, and SYN_15517940. These three compounds established conserved interactions which were further explored through MD simulations, free energy calculations, and residual energy contribution estimated by MM-PB(GB)SA method. All these compounds showed stable conformation and interacted well with the active residues of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, and showed consistent interaction profile with SARS-CoV PLpro and MERS-CoV PLpro as well. Conclusively, the re-ported SARS-CoV-2 PLpro specific compounds could serve as seeds for developing potent pan-PLpro based broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against deadly human coronaviruses. Moreover, the presented infor-mation related to binding site residual energy contribution could lead to further optimization of these compounds.