Docking and molecular dynamics simulation for therapeutic repurposing in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients infected with COVID-19.

Cancer care has become a challenge with the current COVID-19 pandemic scenario. Specially, cancers like small cell lung cancers (SCLC) are difficult to treat even in the normal situation due to their rapid growth and early metastasis. For such patients, treatment can't be compromised and care must be taken to ensure their minimum exposure to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 infection. For this reason, in-house treatments are being suggested for these patients. Another issue is that symptoms of SCLC match well with that of COVID-19 infection. Hence, the detection of COVID-19 may also get delayed leading to unnecessary complications. Thus, we have tried to investigate if the therapeutics that is currently used in lung cancer treatment can also act against SARS-CoV-2. If it is so, the same treatment protocols can be continued even if the SCLC patient had contracted COVID-19 without compromising the cancer care. For this, RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) from SARS-CoV-2 has been selected as drug target. Both docking and molecular dynamicssimulation analysis have indicated that Paclitaxel and Dacomitinib may be explored as multi-target drugs for both SCLC and COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Outbreak of COVID-19: A Detailed Overview and Its Consequences.

INTRODUCTION: After the outbreak from Wuhan City of China, COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a pandemic worldwide in a very short span of time. The high transmission rate and pathogenicity of this virus have made COVID-19 a major public health concern globally. Basically, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 is the third introduction of a highly infectious human epidemic coronavirus in the twenty-first century. Various research groups have claimed bats to be the natural host of SARS-CoV-2. However, the intermediate host and mode of transmission from bat to humans are not revealed yet. The COVID-19 cost hundreds and thousands of lives and millions are facing the consequences. The objective of this chapter was to analyze the outbreak of COVID-19 and problems faced globally. METHODS: All published relevant literature from scientific sources and reputed news channels are considered to write the current review. RESULTS: Generally, elder persons and more particularly people with underlying medical conditions are found to be highly vulnerable to severe infection and prone to fatal outcomes. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment with clinically approved drugs or vaccines to treat this disease. Several research groups have been investigating the efficacies of several antiviral and repurposed drugs. Currently, most of the SARS-COV-2 vaccines are at the preclinical or clinical stage of development. The latest research progress on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and current status of therapeutic intervention indicates that still a specific drug or vaccine needs to come up for the effective treatment of the pandemic COVID-19. It is observed that various aspects of social life, economic status, and healthcare systems are majorly affected by this pandemic. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected each and every field, such as social, scientific, industrial, transport, and medical sectors. Irrespective of tremendous efforts globally, few vaccines are now available for the prevention of the disease. Specific drug is not available publicly for the treatment of COVID-19. Prevention of air pollution that can aggravate COVID-19 has been suggested. Therefore, as of now, social distancing and sanitization practices are the only options available for the prevention of the disease for many.

A detailed review of the outbreak of COVID-19.

The disease COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is the third highly infectious human Coronavirus epidemic in the 21s⁢t century due to its high transmission rate and quick evolution of its pathogenicity. Genomic studies indicate that it is zoonotic from bats. The COVID-19 has led to significant loss of lives and a tremendous economic decline in the world. Generally, the population at risk of a fatal outcome are the elderly and those who are debilitated or are immune compromised. The fatality rate is high, but now is reduced after the development of preventive vaccine although an effective treatment by drug against the virus is yet to be developed. The treatment is narrowed to the use of several anti-viral drugs, or other re-purposed drugs. Social distancing, therefore, has emerged as a putative method to decrease the rate of infection. In this review, we summarize the aspects of the disease that is so far have come to light and review the impact of the infection on our society, healthcare, economy, education, and environment.