ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly impacted global health. Research on viral mechanisms, highly effective vaccines, and other therapies is in progress. Neuropilins have recently been identified as host cell receptors enabling viral fusion. Here, we provide context to neuropilin's tissue-specific role in infection and the potential impact of NRP-based therapeutics. We conclude that the central roles of neuropilins in vascular, neural, and other pathways may render it a less suitable target for treating SARS-CoV-2 than agents that target its binding partner, the viral spike protein.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use , COVID-19/therapy , Neuropilins/genetics , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19/blood , COVID-19/virology , Humans , Neuropilins/immunology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Virus InternalizationSubject(s)
Carbon Footprint , Congresses as Topic , Interprofessional Relations , Research , Science , Telecommunications , COVID-19 , Congresses as Topic/economics , Congresses as Topic/organization & administration , Congresses as Topic/trends , Humans , Research/economics , Research/organization & administration , Research/trends , Science/economics , Science/organization & administration , Science/trends , Telecommunications/economics , Telecommunications/organization & administration , Telecommunications/trendsABSTRACT
Scientific conferences have an important role in the exchange of ideas and knowledge within the scientific community. Conferences also provide early-career researchers with opportunities to make themselves known within their field of research. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has brought traditional in-person conferences to a halt for the foreseeable future, the growth of virtual conferences has highlighted many of the disadvantages associated with the in-person format and demonstrated the advantages of moving these events online. Here, based on data from in-person and virtual conferences in a range of subjects, we describe how virtual conferences are more inclusive, more affordable, less time-consuming and more accessible worldwide, especially for early-career researchers. Making conferences more open and inclusive will provide both immediate and long-term benefits to the scientific community.
Subject(s)
Access to Information , Congresses as Topic , Coronavirus Infections , Information Dissemination , Interprofessional Relations , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Social Isolation , Virtual Reality , COVID-19 , Congresses as Topic/economics , Cooperative Behavior , Diffusion of Innovation , Humans , International CooperationABSTRACT
The need to protect public health during the current COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated conference cancellations on an unprecedented scale. As the scientific community adapts to new working conditions, it is important to recognize that some of our actions may disproportionately affect early-career researchers and scientists from countries with limited research funding. We encourage all conference organizers, funders and institutions who are able to do so to consider how they can mitigate the unintended consequences of conference and travel cancellations and we provide seven recommendations for how this could be achieved. The proposed solutions may also offer long-term benefits for those who normally cannot attend conferences, and thus lead to a more equitable future for generations of researchers.