Evaluating the Effects of Curcumin on the Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 Using a Chip-Based Multiplex Analysis.

SARS-CoV-2 can stimulate the expression of various inflammatory cytokines and induce the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients leading to multiple organ failure and death. Curcumin as a polyphenolic compound has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and inhibit the release of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines. We present multiplex analysis using the Evidence Investigator biochip system to determine the effect of curcumin on serum level of cytokines which are typically elevated in cytokine storm events, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10.

Multiplex Testing of the Effect of Statins on Disease Severity Risk in COVID-19 Cases.

Statins have pleiotropic effects on inflammatory responses in addition to their lipid-lowering action, which contributes to their favorable effect on cardiovascular disorders. Statins affect adhesion, migration, antigen presentation, and cytokine generation of immune cells. Pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that statin intervention targeted early in the infection might help COVID-19 patients to reduce the effects of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the cytokine storm, and vascular collapse by modulating harmful pathogenic mechanisms. This chapter presents a protocol for measuring blood-based biomarkers predictive of these responses in COVID-19 patients using two specific multiplex immunoassays that target proteins that differ widely in concentration.

Multiplex Technologies in COVID-19 Research, Diagnostics, and Prognostics: Battling the Pandemic.

Due to continuous technical developments and new insights into the high complexity of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, there is an increasing need for multiplex biomarkers to aid clinical management and support the development of new drugs and vaccines. COVID-19 disease requires rapid diagnosis and stratification to enable the most appropriate treatment course for the best possible outcomes for patients. In addition, these tests should be rapid, specific, and sensitive. They should rule out other potential causes of illness with simultaneous testing for other diseases. Elevated levels of specific biomarkers can be used to establish severity risks of chronic diseases so that patients can be provided the proper medication at the right time. This review describes the state-of-the-art technologies in proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, for multiplex biomarker approaches in COVID-19 research.

Antisense technology as a potential strategy for the treatment of coronaviruses infection: With focus on COVID-19.

After the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019 and the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 infections all over the world, researchers are struggling to investigate effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this infection. Targeting viral small molecules that are involved in the process of infection is a promising strategy. Since many host factors are also used by SARS-CoV-2 during various stages of infection, down-regulating or silencing these factors can serve as an effective therapeutic tool. Several nucleic acid-based technologies including short interfering RNAs, antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers, DNAzymes, and ribozymes have been suggested for the control of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other respiratory viruses. The antisense technology also plays an indispensable role in the treatment of many other diseases including cancer, influenza, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In this review, we summarised the potential applications of antisense technology for the treatment of coronaviruses and specifically COVID-19 infection.

Potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: Concept, progress, and challenges.

Since September 2020, the world has had more than 28 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many countries are facing a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. A pressing need is evident for the development of a potent vaccine to control the SARS-CoV-2. Institutions and companies in many countries have announced their vaccine research programs and progress against the COVID-19. While most vaccines go through the designation and preparation stages, some of them are under evaluation for efficacy among animal models and clinical trials, and three approved vaccine candidates have been introduced for limited exploitation in Russia and China. An effective vaccine must induce a protective response of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity and should meet the safety and efficacy criteria. Although the emergence of new technologies has accelerated the development of vaccines, there are several challenges on the way, such as limited knowledge about the pathophysiology of the virus, inducing humoral or cellular immunity, immune enhancement with animal coronavirus vaccines, and lack of an appropriate animal model. In this review, we firstly discuss the immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 disease, subsequently, give an overview of several vaccine platforms for SARS-CoV-2 under clinical trials and challenges in vaccine development against this virus.

Potential effects of curcumin in the treatment of COVID-19 infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is an ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with considerable mortality worldwide. The main clinical manifestation of COVID-19 is the presence of respiratory symptoms, but some patients develop severe cardiovascular and renal complications. There is an urgency to understand the mechanism by which this virus causes complications so as to develop treatment options. Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound, could be a potential treatment option for patients with coronavirus disease. In this study, we review some of the potential effects of curcumin such as inhibiting the entry of virus to the cell, inhibiting encapsulation of the virus and viral protease as well as modulating various cellular signaling pathways. This review provides a basis for further research and development of clinical applications of curcumin for the treatment of newly emerged SARS-CoV-2. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.