ABSTRACT
Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) became pandemic by the end of March 2020. In contrast to the 2002-2003 SARS-CoV outbreak, which had a higher pathogenicity and lead to higher mortality rates, SARSCoV-2 infection appears to be much more contagious. Moreover, many SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are reported to develop low-titer neutralizing antibody and usually suffer prolonged illness, suggesting a more effective SARS-CoV-2 immune surveillance evasion than SARS-CoV. This paper summarizes the current state of art about the differences and similarities between the pathogenesis of the two coronaviruses, focusing on receptor binding domain, host cell entry and protease activation. Such differences may provide insight into possible intervention strategies to fight the pandemic.
Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus/pathogenicity , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/epidemiology , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus/pathogenicity , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 , Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis , Betacoronavirus/immunology , COVID-19 , Cathepsins/genetics , Cathepsins/immunology , Coronavirus Infections/enzymology , Coronavirus Infections/immunology , Coronavirus Infections/pathology , Enzyme Activation/immunology , Humans , Immune Evasion , Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/genetics , Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/immunology , Pneumonia, Viral/enzymology , Pneumonia, Viral/immunology , Pneumonia, Viral/pathology , Protein Binding , Protein Domains , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus/immunology , SARS-CoV-2 , Serine Endopeptidases/genetics , Serine Endopeptidases/immunology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/enzymology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/immunology , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/pathology , Severity of Illness Index , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Virus Internalization , Virus ReplicationABSTRACT
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its related Coronavirus Disease - 19 (COVID-19) has become a health emergency worldwide. The medical community has been concerned since the beginning of the outbreak about the potential impact of COVID-19 in children, especially in those with underlying chronic diseases. Fortunately, COVID-19 has been reported to be less severe in children than in adults. However, epidemiologic and clinical data are scarce. Children show unique features of SARS-CoV-2 involvement that may account for the low rate of infection and death in this age group. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most relevant evidence of COVID-19 in children highlighting similarities and differences with adults.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/physiopathology , Cough/physiopathology , Fever/physiopathology , Pharyngitis/physiopathology , Pneumonia, Viral/physiopathology , Tachypnea/physiopathology , Adolescent , Asymptomatic Infections/epidemiology , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Child , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Diarrhea/physiopathology , Fatigue/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/physiopathology , SARS-CoV-2 , Severity of Illness IndexSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Adult , COVID-19 , Child , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. We described viral aetiologies, with particular interest in detecting SARS-CoV-2, in hospitalized pneumonia children. Human rhinovirus was the most frequently detected agent. No children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is rare in children and it was not circulating in Rome before COVID-19 outbreak.