At the Crossroads of One Health: Lessons Learned from Foot and Mouth Disease in COVID-19 Pandemic

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are transboundary diseases caused by single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses with similarities in genome replication and viral protein synthesis. In FMD, asymptomatic infection leads to carrier status and persistently infected animals that threaten the animals vaccinated with a trivalent inactivated whole virus vaccine. Similar information on COVID-19 is not yet available. As COVID-19 vaccination is introduced in January 2021 (since 16 January 2021 in India), its outcome can be assessed by the year-end;and while doing so, the experiences gained in the control of FMD in livestock worldwide can be applied, including monitoring of vaccination response, duration of immunity, level of herd immunity developed, and antigenic matching of the vaccine virus. Antigenic divergence of the virus is a major issue in FMD, and different geographical regions in the world use different virus strains in vaccine preparations to antigenically match circulating virus strains in respective regions for control of the disease. Non-synonymous mutations in the critical antigenic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 have been observed, and there is likely the existence/development of antigenic variants. Therefore, during the post-COVID-19 vaccination regime, it will be essential to monitor the suitability of the in-use vaccine strain region-wise from time to time, as there could be an eruption of isolated outbreaks in a country arising due to antigenic variation and variants. In the context of the present scenario of COVID-19 around the Globe and multiple ongoing efforts to develop suitable vaccine(s) to control the disease, it is a must to develop NSP-antibody (that differentiate infected from vaccinated) assays to differentiate infected from vaccinated individuals(DIVI;DIVA in veterinary epidemiology). The techniques used and experiences gained in ongoing FMD control programs in the endemic countries can be applied to COVID-19 control in a country;and finally, the Globe. After achieving the control of COVID-19, the aim would be to eradicate the virus, which will be tough even with vaccination, as the disease/infection may become endemic during the time to come. To achieve this, applying the principles of Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD;FAO/OIE) to COVID-19 control will be beneficial in its control. The present review discusses the issue of control of COVID-19. © 2021 by the authors.

Time and Frequency Connectedness Among Emerging Markets and QGREEN, FinTech and Artificial Intelligence-Based Index: Lessons from the Outbreak of COVID-19

The study is about contributing to the ongoing discussion on the diversification opportunities for emerging markets with non-conventional asset class. The limited literature in the era of fourth industrial revolution motivates us to gauge diversification opportunities. This study is focusing on identifying diversification opportunities with a set of unique asset classes that are the proxies for Green Funds, FinTech and Artificial Intelligence-based index funds. The method and model applied in the study are time and frequency connectedness in a Wavelet Coherence, and for the robustness check—Network analysis has been applied. The originality of the study lies in identifying the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19. The results captured that FinTech-based asset was the most resilient asset class during the pre- and post-outbreak of COVID-19, followed by AI-based fund and finally by Green fund. Henceforth, FinTech provides superior diversification opportunities among all with MSCI Emerging Market. AI and Green funds are captured to be invested in the long term for diversification, whereas FinTech is suitable for both long- and short-term assets. The results are relevant for investors in emerging markets and for policymakers as well. © 2023 MDI.

Diversity due to mutations in circulating virus strains of SARS-CoV-2 may delay control of COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) is a beta-coronavirus (beta-CoV;sarbecovirus), like its predecessors SARS and MERS CoVs. Of the structural proteins of the virus, the Spike (S) protein on the virion envelope binds to the host cell ACE2 through viral epitopes in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Deletions in the ORF8 as well as mutations in the S gene of SARS-CoV of 2003 were related to adaptation of the virus to humans. The emergence of novel variants of SARS-CoV-2, viz., B.1.1.7, B.1.427 and B.1.429, B.1.617 and its Kappa and Delta strains/ variants, B.1.351, and P.1 in the United Kingdom, Americas, India, South Africa and Brazil, respectively, has been found be associated with the current waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. These variants are antigenically dissimilar, whereas the current COVID-19 vaccines are monovalent. This is a handicap in the control program. The Delta variant has been reported in 74 countries as of 14 June 2021 and the anticipated third wave involving this variant is of concern to the countries (www.gavi.org). Of late, on 17 June 2021, Delta Plus variant was identified in India (AIIMS, Bhopal, India). Circulation of virus in vaccinated population may lead to endemicity, and this can be monitored by regular serosurveillance for antibodies against select non-structural proteins (NSPs) of the virus;antibodies to NSPs will indicate virus replication in the host. Endemic areas will have higher NSP reactors. It is predicted that the Delta B.1 variant may ignite the third wave of the disease in many countries. As it has been difficult to achieve uniformity in time and density of the vaccination even in the districts, circulation of the virus in partially immune population may lead to the selection of newer variants of SARS-CoV-2. The presence of monoclonal antibody resistant mutants and neutralization—escape mutants in quasispecies structure of another + sense RNA virus, i.e., Aphthovirus (FMD virus;foot and mouth disease virus) in the family Picornaviridae is well documented. The situation could be similar in the Coronaviridae member SARS-CoV-2. Previous immunity may not protect against current/ future mutants thereby pro-longing the COVID-19 control Programme. © 2022 Sharanagouda S. Patil et al.

Emergence of Mucormycosis during COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The present review describes about the disease and the fungal agent in brief, and also stresses for establishment of mechanically ventilated hospital wards across the country. Second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India has been complicated by high infection rate (R-0), 600% jump in medical oxygen demand by COVID hospitals, and after all emergence of Mucormycosis since April-May 2021 leading to fatal complications. Mucormycosis is a very rare infection in humans. It is caused by exposure to mucor mould/ fungi which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. These Fungi belonging to the class Zygomycetes and order Mucorales often cause devastating angio-invasive infections, primarily in co-morbid and immunocompromised patients. The emergence of mucormycosis is being reported globally. In India, people with diabetes mellitus are highly susceptible to the disease. But during the second wave of Covid-19 in India, several cases of mucormycosis, also called the "black fungus" disease, have been reported among convalescing and convalescent COVID-19 patients across India with a mortality rate of 50%. More than 5000 cases of mucormycosis during the second wave of Covid-19, have been reported in about 21 states of the country, with Maharashtra and Gujarat states reporting highest number of cases (as on 21 May 2021). The infection has claimed over 120 lives so far, and has complicated recovery from Covid-19 in many more. The Indian Union health ministry has declared mucormycosis as a notified disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Quasispecies feature in SARS-CoV-2

Since the identification of the SARS-CoV-2, genus Beta-Coronavirus, in January 2020, the virus quickly spread in less than 3 months to all continents with a susceptible human population of about a 7.9billion, and still in active circulation. In the process, it has accumulated mutations leading to genetic diversity. Regular emergence of variants of concern/significance in different ecology shows genetic heterogeneity in the base population of SARS-CoV-2 that is continuously expanding with the passage of the virus in the vast susceptible human population. Natural selection of mutant occurs frequently in a positive sense (+) single-stranded (ss) RNA virus upon replication in the host. The Pressure of sub-optimal levels of virus-neutralizing antibodies and also innate immunity influence the process of genetic/ antigenic selection. The fittest of the mutants, that could be more than one, propagate and emerge as variants. The existence of different lineages, clades, and strains, as well as genetic heterogeneity of plaque purified virus population, justifies SARS-CoV-2 as 'Quasispecies‘ that refers to swarms of mutant sequences generated during replication of the viral genome, and all mutant sequences may not lead to virion. Viruses having a quasispecies nature may end up with progressive antigenic changes leading to antigenic plurality that is driven by ecology, and this phenomenon challenges vaccination-based control programs. © 2021, Editorial board of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.

Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the currency exchanges of selected countries

The paper aims to analyse the impact of the COVID outbreak on the currency market. The study considers spot rates of seven major currencies (i.e., EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF, and CHF/JPY). To capture the impact of the outbreak on returns and the volatility of returns of seven currencies during pandemic, the study has segregated in two window periods (i.e., pre- [1st Jan 2019 to 31st Dec, 2019] and post-outbreak of COVID-19 [1st Jan, 2020 to 22nd Dec, 2020]). The study has applied various methods and models (i.e., econometric-based compounded annual growth rate [CAGR], dummy variable regression, and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity [GARCH]). The result of the study captures the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on three currencies-USD/JPY, AUD/USD, and USD/CHF-and positive significant impact on EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, and CHF/JPY. Investors can take short position in these while having long position in other currencies. The inferences drawn from the analysis are providing insight to investors and hedgers. Copyright © 2022, IGI Global.

Forward mutations in SARS-CoV-2 cause waves of COVID-19

Time space between waves of Covid-19 is linked to selection of most appropriate virus mutant(s)/variant(s), in the Spike (S) gene, generated during massive and error prone replication of the virus in the human populations that are either naive or partially immune due to infection immunity or vaccinal immunity, having higher transmissibility with immune-escape feature and increased pathogenicity. The mutations in the S gene have been found to be progressive to resist prevalent virus neutralizing antibodies in the hosts. The first mutation of significance was D (Asp) to G (Gly) at the position 614 of the Spike protein, over the original Wuhan strain/virus. Subsequently, with in a short time span of less than 18 months since December 2019, many Variants/mutants of SARS-CoV-2, viz., B.1.1.7, B.1.427, B.1.1.28.2, B.1.429, B.1.617, B.1.351, and P.1 have been found associated with the current waves of the Covid-19 pandemic in different countries. The latest significant S variants identified in the second wave in India and elsewhere are B.1.617 and its Kappa (k), Delta (8) and Delta plus (8+;Lys to Asn at position 417) strains, in the order of appearance. The lambda (X) variant is prevalent in South America. The P.2 variant B.1.1.28.2 was antigenically dominant over B.1 D614G virus. The k and 8 variants of the S gene were partially resistant to neutralization by existing vaccinal antibodies, and the 8 variant has been feared to ignite third wave in many countries of Americas, Asia and Europe. The SARS-CoV-2 possibly has 'Quasispecies' structure, like the transboundary animal pathogen Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus, and continuous forward mutations in the S gene has been the cause of the fact that "previous immunity acquired during the course of the natural infection (or vaccination) is not fully competent to protect against subsequent mutants selected (in the nature) that leads to new waves of the disease". The waves of Covid-19 have been guided by emergence of sequential antigenic variants, e.g. B.1 D614G virus

Covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review on the coronaviruses of animals and sars-cov-2

Coronaviruses (CoVs), classified into four genera, viz., alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and Delta-CoV, represent an important group of diverse transboundary pathogens that can infect a variety of mammalian and avian species including humans, animals, poultry, and non-poultry birds. CoVs primarily infect lung and gut epithelial cells, besides monocytes and macrophages. CoVs have high mutation rates causing changes in host specificity, tissue tropism, and mode of virus excretion and transmissions. The recent CoV zoonoses are SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 that are caused by the transmission of beta-CoVs of bats to humans. Recently, reverse zoonoses of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in dogs, tigers, and minks. Beta-CoV strains also infect bovine (BCoV) and canine species (CRCoV);both these beta-CoVs might have originated from a common ancestor. Despite the high genetic similarity between BCoV, CRCoV, and HCoV-OC43, these differ in species specificity. Alpha-CoV strains infect canine (CCoV), feline (FIPV), swine (TGEV and PEDV), and humans (HCoV229E and NL63). Six coronavirus species are known to infect and cause disease in pigs, seven in human beings, and two in dogs. The high mutation rate in CoVs is attributed to error-prone 3′-5′ exoribonuclease (NSP 14), and genetic recombination to template shift by the polymerase. The present compilation describes the important features of the CoVs and diseases caused in humans, animals, and birds that are essential in surveillance of diverse pool of CoVs circulating in nature, and monitoring interspecies transmission, zoonoses, and reverse zoonoses. © 2021, Editorial board of Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.

Covid-19 pandemic: history, aetiologu, epidemiology, vaccinology and societal impact

The virus causing the current novel coronavirus disease in humans is named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On 29 December 2019, the pneumonic disease was first noticed in the Wuhan city of Hubei Province in China affecting people of all age groups. The COVID-19 pandemic is currently affecting 213 countries and territories around the world;it also involved two international conveyances. The SARS-CoV-2 is a novel Coronavirus that had not been seen before, first isolated from people with acute respiratory illness. All features of the novel SARS-CoV-2 are similar to the other coronaviruses occurring in nature in bats and other animal species. Outside the human body, the virus is inactivated by household soap solution and lipid solvents that dissolve its protective envelope layer and make it non-infectious. Genetically, SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to SARS-CoV of 2003, but distinct from Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV (MERS-CoV) of 2012. All these three respiratory human CoVs (HCoVs) are of bat origin and zoonotic;transmission from bat to human is facilitated by intermediate animal hosts, that, is civet cat for SARS and dromedary camel for MERS. It is not clear as to which animal is the intermediate host to facilitate the jumping of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to human. Ant-eating Pangolins are prime suspect to act as intermediate host, but yet inconclusive. Genetic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus (genus) and genetically clusters within the subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B), together with some bat virus strains with >96% genetic identity. Coronaviruses shift host frequently. Scientists found that the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein had evolved to effectively bind to a molecule on different types of human cells known as ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), a receptor involved in regulating blood pressure, to initiate host cell infection cycle. Organs having higher number of ACE2 bearing cells are severely damaged by the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is longer than the SARS and MERS-CoVs and is very effective at binding to human cells through ACE2 receptor, and the scientists working on the virus concluded that it was the result of natural selection and not the product of genetic engineering. Furthermore, it has been found that the SARS-CoV-2 backbone differs substantially from those of already known HCoVs. It mostly resembles to related CoVs found in bats and pangolins. Autologous (between viruses affecting same host species) and heterologous (between viruses affecting different host species) genetic recombination help in evolution/emergence of new virus variants/pathogenic species. The COVID-19 affects human of all ages with primarily respiratory sickness of different degree;however, it has been observed to be fatal in elderly people due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) complicated by cytokine storm, as observed earlier in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease of cats caused by feline CoV (FIPV). Similarly, antibodydependant enhancement (ADE), as described earlier during evaluation of a FIPV vaccine, has been suspected to occur in COVID-19. The present compilation, prepared with the help of data and information available on the Internet and NCBI-PubMed, is an effort for the students in virology, immunology, genetics, pharmacology and epidemiology so that they can be motivated to undertake research programmes to fill the gaps in the available knowledge;particularly in the areas of immunology and vaccinology, epidemiology and therapeutics, etc. Further, real-time surveillance of coronavirus strains circulating in domestic pet, wild and captive animals/mammals, and poultry birds will help in monitoring possible inter species jump of the virus, as it will be of immense help once the current Global COVID-19 pandemic subsides. It is also important t