Reanalysis of MERS, SARS and COVID-19 Infection Datasets using VirOmics Playground Reveals Common Patterns in Gene and Protein Expression (preprint)

Three lethal lower respiratory tract coronavirus epidemics have occurred over the past 20 years. This coincided with major developments in genome-wide gene and protein expression analysis, resulting in a wealth of datasets in the public domain. Seven such in vitro studies were selected for comparative bioinformatic analysis through the VirOmics Playground, a user-friendly visualisation and exploration platform we recently developed. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the data sets, several commonalities could be observed across studies and species. Differences, on the other hand, reflected not only variations between species, but also other experimental variables, such as cell lines used for the experiments, infection protocols and potential discrepancies between transcriptome and proteome data. The results presented here are available online and can be replicated through the VirOmics Playground.

Nitazoxanide and JIB-04 have broad-spectrum antiviral activity and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell culture and coronavirus pathogenesis in a pig model (preprint)

Pathogenic coronaviruses represent a major threat to global public health. Here, using a recombinant reporter virus-based compound screening approach, we identified several small-molecule inhibitors that potently block the replication of the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Two compounds, nitazoxanide and JIB-04 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells with an EC50 of 4.90 M and 0.69 M, respectively, with specificity indices of greater than 150. Both inhibitors had in vitro antiviral activity in multiple cell types against some DNA and RNA viruses, including porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus. In an in vivo porcine model of coronavirus infection, administration of JIB-04 reduced virus infection and associated tissue pathology, which resulted in improved body weight gain and survival. These results highlight the potential utility of nitazoxanide and JIB-04 as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 and other viral pathogens.

Urine nucleic acid test positive in an asymptomatic patient with novel coronavirus 2019 infection: a case report (preprint)

Background: With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 in many places around the world, the main medical resources currently focus on the treatment of confirmed patients and the screening of suspected cases. Asymptomatic patients are difficult to detect, but they may be contagious, which makes epidemic control more difficult. We found a case of asymptomatic patient with positive urine coronavirus nucleic acid test, and we hope to attract attention of all circles.Case presentation: An asymptomatic patient with novel coronavirus infection was found in an epidemiological investigation of patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019. The patient was admitted to the hospital on February 24, 2020. She had no clinical manifestations such as fever, dry cough, and fatigue, and no abnormal signs. The examination showed that her throat swab was negative for nucleic acid but the urine was positive for nucleic acid. She was given antiviral and symptomatic supportive treatment. On February 26, her throat swab was checked for nucleic acid positive. On March 3 and 5, her throat swab and urine nucleic acid were negative. On March 9 and 12, her throat swab nucleic acid were negative. The patient was discharged from the hospital on March 13 and continued to be isolated and observed outside the hospital. Follow-up was conducted on March 26, the patient did not have any discomfort, the throat swab nucleic acid test was negative, and the isolation was lifted.Conclusion: There are asymptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019, and their urine may be one of the sources of infection.