Can we Succeed in the Fight Against SARS-CoV-2 with its Emerging New Variants?

In 2019, the whole world came together to confront a life-threatening virus named SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19 illness. The virus infected the human host by attaching to the ACE2 and CD147 receptors in some human cells, resulting in cytokine storm and death. The new variants of the virus that caused concern are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon, according to the WHO label. However, Pango lineages designated them as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.429. Variants may be progressively formed in one chronic COVID-19 patient and transmitted to others. They show some differences in cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD) lead to alterations in the host's physiological responses. They show significantly higher transmissibility rates and viral load while evading neutralizing antibodies at different rates. These effects are through mutations, deletion, and conformational alterations in the virus, resulting in the enhanced affinity of RBD to PD of ACE2 protein, virus entry, and spike conformational change. In the clinical laboratory, new variants may diagnose from other variants using specific primers for RBD or NTD. There are some controversial findings regarding the efficacy of the developed vaccines against the new variants. This research aimed to discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms beyond COVID-19 pathogenesis, focusing on the new variants. We glanced at why the mutations and the ability to transmit the virus increase and how likely the available vaccines will be effective against these variants.

The World Against Versatile SARS-Cov-2 Nanomachines: Mythological or Reality?

Nanomachines hold promise for the next generation of emerging technology; however, nanomachines are not a new concept. Viruses, nature's nanomachines, have already existed for thousands of years. In 2019, the whole world had to come together to confront a life-threatening nanomachine named "SARS-CoV-2", which causes COVID-19 illness. SARS-CoV-2, a smart nanomachine, attaches itself to the ACE2 and CD147 receptors present on the cell surfaces of the lungs, kidneys, heart, brain, intestines, testes, etc. and triggers pathogenesis. Cell entry triggers a cascade of inflammatory responses resulting in tissue damage, with the worst affected cases leading to death. SARS-CoV-2 influences several receptors and signalling pathways; therefore, finding a biomaterial that caps these signalling pathways and ligand sites is of interest. This research aimed to compare the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and its elderly sisters, MERS and SARS. Furthermore, we glanced at emerging therapeutics that carry potential in eliminating SARS-CoV-2, and the tissue damage it causes. Simple prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of COVID- 19 infection have been put forward.