ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected public health system and surveillance of other communicable diseases across the globe. The lockdown, travel constraints and COVID phobia turned down the number of people with illness visiting to the clinics or hospitals. Besides this, the heavy workload of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis has led to the reduction in differential diagnosis of other diseases. Consequently, it added to the underlying burden of many diseases which remained under-diagnosed. Amidst the pandemic, the rise of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases was observed worldwide and reported to the World Health Organization i.e., Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (2022, Iraq;2021 India), Nipah virus (2021, India), Zika virus (2021, India), and H5N1 influenza (2021, India), Monkeypox (2022, multicountry outbreak), Ebola virus disease (2022, DRC, Uganda;2021, DRC, Guinea;2020, DRC), Marburg (2022, Ghana;2021, Guinea), Yellow fever (2022, Uganda, Kenya, West and Central Africa;2021, Ghana, Venezuela, Nigeria;2020, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon;2020, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda), Dengue (2022, Nepal, Pakistan, Sao Tome, Temor-Leste;2021, Pakistan), Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (2022, Oman, Qatar;2021, Saudi Arabia, UAE;2020, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Rift valley fever (2021, Kenya;2020, Mauritania), wild poliovirus type 1 (2022, Mozambique), Lassa fever (2022, Guinea, Togo, Nigeria;2020, Nigeria), Avian Influenza (H3N8) (2022, China), Avian Influenza (H5N1) (2022, USA), H10N3 influenza (2021, China), Hepatitis E virus (2022, Sudan), Measles (2022, Malawi, Afghanistan;2020, Burundi, Mexico), Mayaro virus disease (2020, French Guiana), Oropouche virus disease (2020, French Guiana). All these diseases were associated with high morbidity and burdened the public health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this critical public health menace, majority of the laboratory workforce was mobilized to the SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. This has limited the surveillance efforts that likely led to under diagnosis and under-detection of many infectious pathogens. Lockdowns and travel limitations also put a hold on human and animal surveillance studies to assess the prevalence of these zoonotic viruses. In addition, lack of supplies and laboratory personnel and an overburdened workforce negatively impacted differential diagnosis of the diseases. This is especially critical given the common symptoms between COVID-19 and other pathogens causing respiratory illnesses. Additionally, the vaccination programs against various vaccine preventable diseases were also hampered which might have added to the disease burden. Despite these challenges, the world is better prepared to detect and respond to emerging/re-emerging pathogens. India now has more than 3000 COVID-19 diagnostic laboratories and an enhanced hospital infrastructure. In addition, mobile BSL-3 facilities are being validated for onsite sampling and testing in remote areas during outbreak situations and surveillance activities. This will undoubtedly be valuable as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves as well as during future outbreaks and epidemics. In conclusion, an increase in the emergence and re-emergence of viruses demonstrates that other infectious diseases have been neglected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned from the infrastructure strengthening, collaborations with multiple stakeholders, increased laboratory and manufacturing capacity, large-scale COVID-19 surveillance, extensive network for laboratory diagnosis, and intervention strategies can be implemented to provide quick, concerted responses against the future threats associated with other zoonotic pathogens.
ABSTRACT
RNA viruses are diverse and abundant pathogens responsible for numerous human ailments, from common colds to AIDS, SARS, Ebola, and other dangerous diseases. RNA viruses possess relatively compact genomes and have therefore evolved multiple mechanisms to maximize their coding capacities, often using overlapping reading frames. In this way, one RNA sequence can encode multiple proteins via mechanisms including alternative splicing and ribosomal frameshifting. Many such processes in gene expression involve the RNA folding into three-dimensional structures that can recruit ribosomes without initiation factors, hijack host proteins, cause ribosomes to frameshift, and expose or occlude regulatory protein binding motifs to ultimately control each key process in the viral life cycle. I will discuss the RNA structure of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of alternative conformations assumed by the same RNA sequence in controlling gene expression of viruses and bacteria.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 is one of the worst catastrophic events in human history. A number of therapeutic modalities have been utilized in order to fight the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), although the majority of them failed to demonstrate a beneficial clinical effect. Among the anti-COVID-19 agents being investigated, the convalescent plasma collected from recovered donors has gained a growing interest. Convalescent plasma has been employed for over a hundred years to treat severe acute viral infections when a vaccine or a specific antiviral treatment was not yet available. In this narrative review, we summarize the literature data on the use of convalescent plasma during previous viral outbreaks and pandemics, including influenza viruses, coronaviruses other than SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola virus. A literature search, using the Medline and PubMed electronic database, was performed to retrieve publications on the use of convalescent plasma in previous viral epidemics. In conclusion, the available literature data suggest the safety profile of convalescent plasma and its potential benefit in treating emerging viral infectious diseases. In addition, these data retrieved from previous viral epidemics provide a solid rationale for the employment of plasma from convalescent donors also in COVID-19 patients.Copyright © 2021 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Four broad themes run through this year's N'Galy-Mann lecture: clinical medicine, HIV, health security, and global health. Three patterns of disease characterized medicine in East Africa at the time that AIDS was first described in the United States: diseases of poverty, mainly infectious;non-communicable diseases with differing international epidemiology;and classic tropical diseases restricted in distribution by ecologic needs of parasites and vectors. Limited resources did not prevent the practice of good medicine under adverse circumstances, nor application of basic principles of research. The recognition of a second AIDS virus (HIV-2) in West Africa in the mid-late 1980s required applied research to assess implications and potential global impact of this novel infection. CDC established a second collaborative research site in sub-Saharan Africa, Projet RETRO-CI, in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (the first was Projet SIDA in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where N'Galy and Mann made seminal contributions). Controversy around HIV-2 diagnosis, transmission, and pathogenicity was slowly resolved through West African research showing HIV-2 was an AIDS-causing pathogen, slower than HIV-1 in its progression, and less transmissible until late in the course of infection. Mother-to-child transmission was exceptionally rare. Claims that HIV-2 protected against HIV-1 were not substantiated. Projet RETRO-CI clarified the spectrum of HIVassociated disease and the dominant role of tuberculosis. Placebo-controlled trials demonstrated efficacy of short-course zidovudine for prevention of perinatal transmission of HIV-1, and of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in reducing hospitalization and mortality in persons with HIV. Global health today is dominated by discourse around health security. The West African and Congolese Ebola epidemics since 2014 aroused strong declarations, yet the world was poorly prepared to address the pandemic of COVID-19. Health in the world has changed substantially since AIDS emerged. As 2030, the year for delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals, approaches, development assistance for health remains essential to address traditional, unfinished commitments yet does not match today's global burden of disease. CROI attendees are encouraged to remember colleagues lost to COVID-19 and other challenges;to assess priorities in today's global health, including relating to HIV;and to reflect on what issues? N'Galy and Mann would focus on today.
ABSTRACT
Three antiviral drugs, including interferon alpha (aerosol inhalation), lopinavir/ritonavir (oral medication), and ribavirin (intravenous infusion), are recommended by Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (revised version, the 5th ed), which was issued by the National Health Commission of People's Republic of China and National Administration of traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, clinical trials on a new antiviral drug-remdesivir which is not yet on the market has also been launched in China. Medication safety related data on treatment for infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, middle respiratory syndrome coronavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, lopinavir/ritonavir, and ribavirin, safety data of remdesivir in animal experiment, phase I clinical trials and clinical trials of treating Ebola virus infection, and preliminary reports of treatment in novel coronavirus pneumonia were briefly reviewed, aiming to provide evidence for clinical safety medication.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.
ABSTRACT
Vaccine development usually takes around 7 y to come to the market after getting necessary regulatory approvals. But recent pandemics like Covid, Ebola, Swine Flu, have resulted in the collaboration of efforts between the government doing investments in vaccine development, academia, regulatory bodies, and industry. This has shortened the timelines for approval for vaccines. In 2009, HINI, Swine flu vaccines took 93 d for identifying the vaccine candidate for clinical trials. In 2014, for Ebola vaccine, it was deployed while the epidemic was still going on. Ebola vaccine was developed in 5 y. In case of Covid (SARS-CoV-2) clinical trials were approved when 2 mo of the pandemic onset. Within a time of 9 mo about 138 vaccine candidates are being reviewed for approval of EUA. This highly helps in the shortening of vaccine development and necessary approval. In this paper, we focused on the regulatory framework of vaccine development in INDIA, US and EU.Copyright © 2023 The Authors.
ABSTRACT
Recurrent disease outbreaks caused by a range of emerging and resurging pathogens over the past decade reveal major gaps in public health preparedness, detection, and response systems in Africa. Underlying causes of recurrent disease outbreaks include inadequacies in the detection of new infectious disease outbreaks in the community, in rapid pathogen identification, and in proactive surveillance systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, where 70% of zoonotic outbreaks occur, there remains the perennial risk of outbreaks of new or re-emerging pathogens for which no vaccines or treatments are available. As the Ebola virus disease, COVID-19, and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreaks highlight, a major paradigm shift is required to establish an effective infrastructure and common frameworks for preparedness and to prompt national and regional public health responses to mitigate the effects of future pandemics in Africa.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
ABSTRACT
The emergence of new pathogenic viruses and the constant outbreak of viral diseases have created an upsurge in novel antiviral agents. Marine natural products are the most unexplored reservoir of novel, biologically active, chemically diverse compounds. A systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, accessing four major databases;PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Numerous studies supported the robust antiviral activity of marine resources against drug-resistant viruses such as SARS, Ebola, Influenza, and HIV. However, adequate research on marine resources for developing anti-covid therapy is lacking. The aim of the review was to explore the marine resources and their compounds that could lead to developing an effective antiviral drug. We also highlighted the current status of novel compounds against different species of corona family and discussed the future prospects of marine resources against COVID-19 management.Copyright © 2023 the authors.
ABSTRACT
Interferons (IFNs) were first discovered over 60 years ago in a classic experiment by Isaacs and Lindenman showing that type I IFNs have antiviral activity. IFNs are widely used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, viral hepatitis B and C, and some forms of cancer. Preliminary clinical data support the efficacy of type I IFN against potential pandemic viruses such as Ebola and SARS. Nevertheless, more effective and specific drugs have found their place in the treatment of such diseases. As the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is evolving, type I IFN is being re-discussed as one of the main pathogenic drugs, and initial clinical trials have shown promising results in reducing the severity and duration of COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the production of IFN-beta and prevents a full innate immune response to this virus, it is sensitive to the antiviral activity of externally administered type I IFN. The review presents current data on the classification and mechanisms of action of IFN. Possible options for the optimal use of IFN in the fight against COVID-19 are discussed.Copyright © 2022 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The deadly outbreak of COVID-19 disease caused by novel SARS CoV2 has created an unprecedented global health crisis affecting every sectors of human life and enor-mous damage to world's economy. With >16.1 million infections and >650,000 deaths worldwide as of July 27, 2020, there is no treatment for this disease neither is there any available vaccine. Seri-ous research efforts are ongoing on all fronts including treatment, prevention and diagnosis to combat the spread of this infection. A number of targets that include both viral and host proteins have been identified and became part of intense investigation. In this respect the viral surface spike (S) glycoprotein caught the attention most. It is cleaved by multiple host proteases to allow recognition by host receptor human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme2 (hACE2) leading to fusion and viral re-plication. Natural products, small compounds, antioxidants, peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, antibodies and other compounds are under investigation for development of antiviral agents against COVID-19. Objective(s): Recently cholesterol lowering phytocompounds Quercetin, Swertiamarin and Berberine which promote human Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (hLDLR) via inhibition of human Pro-protein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin9 (hPCSK9) have been shown to block viral infections caused by ebola, influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other RNA type viruses. Since SARS CoV2 is a RNA virus with similar genetic structure and infection machin-ery, it is hypothesised that these phytocompounds may also exhibit antiviral property against COVID-19. Method(s): Our above concept is based on recently published studies as well as our herein presented in silico modeling and computational data which suggested strong interactions of hPCSK9 with above phytocompounds and most importantly with hACE2 following its complexation with receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS CoV2 S protein. Result(s): These results and a proposed schematic model showing association of hPCSK9 with SARS CoV2 infection are presented in this manuscript. It is proposed that hPCSK9 plays the role of a co-receptor in binding with hACE2:RBD complex and thereby facilitates viral fusion. Conclusion(s): Our studies suggest that PCSK9 inhibitors may provide beneficial effect against COVID-19 infection by retarding viral fusion through displacement of bound hPCSK9 from its complex with ACE2:RBD of SARS CoV2 S protein.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic now, and several measures have been taken by countries to prevent, control, and treat the disease. WHO has been working meticulously and has been providing up to date information and statistics on incidences and death. Several broad--spectrum anti-viral drugs are available and have been used in the past to fight against the viral out-break. Recently remdesivir, an experimental prodrug from Gilead Sciences, has been found to be a potential drug to be used as a therapy to treat COVID-19. Objective(s): Here, we have reviewed several previous findings from the literature and present an up to date information on remdesivir. Result(s): Remdesivir was initially invented for use against Ebola virus treatment and has proved ef-fective against different strains of Ebola, Nipah, and other strains of coronaviruses. Clinical trials with remdesivir for COVID-19 patients have begun, and several off label use of remdesivir have been reported recently. Currently, the drug seems to have an effect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with side effects among a few patients. Although the results are not conclusive, they are partly promising. This review provides past and recent updates on the use of remdesivir. Conclusion(s): From the review, we conclude that the drug remdesivir is known to exhibit its mechanism of action by terminating the RNA synthesis, and it is a potential drug against the novel coron-avirus.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Vaccines are one of the most effective means of preventing viral infections. Since Edward Jenner invented the world's first vaccine in 1796, against smallpox, various types of vaccine have been DDS developed, including inactivated vaccines, attenuated live vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines. Viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines mRNA vaccines and DNA vaccineshave been developed most recently. In these vaccines, genes encoding viral proteins that serve as antigens are introduced into the body. The viral vector is an excellent vaccine delivery system that efficiently delivers antigen genes to target cells, and has been utilized for vaccine development against a variety of emerging infectious diseases, including AIDS, malaria, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, and most recently COVID-19 . Here, we provide an overview of viral vector vaccines and discuss recent efforts to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.Copyright © 2022, Japan Society of Drug Delivery System. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Vaccines are one of the most effective means of preventing viral infections. Since Edward Jenner invented the world's first vaccine in 1796, against smallpox, various types of vaccine have been DDS developed, including inactivated vaccines, attenuated live vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines. Viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines (mRNA vaccines and DNA vaccines)have been developed most recently. In these vaccines, genes encoding viral proteins that serve as antigens are introduced into the body. The viral vector is an excellent vaccine delivery system that efficiently delivers antigen genes to target cells, and has been utilized for vaccine development against a variety of emerging infectious diseases, including AIDS, malaria, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, and most recently COVID-19 . Here, we provide an overview of viral vector vaccines and discuss recent efforts to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.Copyright © 2022, Japan Society of Drug Delivery System. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Vaccines are one of the most effective means of preventing viral infections. Since Edward Jenner invented the world's first vaccine in 1796, against smallpox, various types of vaccine have been DDS developed, including inactivated vaccines, attenuated live vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines. Viral vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines (mRNA vaccines and DNA vaccines)have been developed most recently. In these vaccines, genes encoding viral proteins that serve as antigens are introduced into the body. The viral vector is an excellent vaccine delivery system that efficiently delivers antigen genes to target cells, and has been utilized for vaccine development against a variety of emerging infectious diseases, including AIDS, malaria, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, and most recently COVID-19 . Here, we provide an overview of viral vector vaccines and discuss recent efforts to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.Copyright © 2022, Japan Society of Drug Delivery System. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) declared novel Coronavirus (nCoV-2019) outbreaks in 2019 as pandemic. Method(s): This research work made an analysis of the nCoV-2019 outbreak in India solely based on a mathematical model. Result(s): The historical epidemics in the world are plague, AIDS, Swine flu, ebola, zika virus, Black Death and SARS. Considering the model used for SARS 2003, the present research on COVID-2019 estimates characteristics of the rate of infections (I) and rate of recovery(R), which leads to the estima-tion of the I and R leading to predict the number of infections and recovery. Through ruling out the un-predictable and unreasonable data, the model predicts that the number of the cumulative 2019-nCoV cases may reach from 3398458 (mid of May) to 15165863, with a peak of the unrecovered infection (2461434-15165863) occurring in late April to late July. In this paper, we predicate how the confirmed infected cases would rapidly decrease until late March to July in India. We also focus on how the Gov-ernment of Odisha (a state of India) creates history in the protective measures of COVID-19. Conclusion(s): The growing infected cases may get reduced by 70-79% by strong anti-epidemic measures. The enforcement of shutdown, lockdown, awareness, and improvement of medical and health care could also lead to about one-half transmission decrease and constructively abridge the duration of the 2019 n-CoV.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) has the potential to prevent pathogen transfusion transmission from blood donor to patient by impeding the replication of bacteria, viruses and parasites in blood components. Additionally, PRT can help to guarantee blood safety in challenging situations for blood supply, as in the Ebola or Chikungunya epidemics, or in a scenario full of uncertainties such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The Balearic Islands Blood Bank (BIBB) is one of the few blood establishments worldwide with more than 10 years of experience in the routine use of amotosalen/UVA (Intercept Blood System) and riboflavin/UVA-UVB (Mirasol PRT system) for platelets (PLTs), the use of riboflavin/UVA-UVB for plasma and with research experience in riboflavin/UVA-UVB applied to whole blood. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to evaluate PRT from different perspectives, such as clinical and hemovigilance research in adults and children, in vitro studies on PRT effects on PLTs and assessing the financial impact of PRT implementation. PRT methods offer remarkable benefits but also have certain limitations, which are important to bear in mind during the decision-making process for PRT implementation. The purpose of this study is to review the current knowledge on PRT for PLTs drawing on our experience acquired over the last decade.Copyright © 2021 AME Publishing Company.
ABSTRACT
It has long been recognized that pathogens, such as viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms, emerge and change over time. Viruses are powerful infectious agents that have co-evolved with humans and are responsible for several serious illnesses in people. There is no herd immunity for most humans, making emerging viruses, particularly the RNA viruses, more dangerous. The high mistake rate of the polymerases that copy the RNA viruses' genomes gives them the ability to adapt to the quickly changing local and global environments. Through mutation (as in the case of Dengue viruses), reassortment (as in the case of influenza viruses), and recombination, they can evolve at a rapid rate (polioviruses). The influenza A viruses (such as H1N1 and H5N1), which have caused numerous outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics around the world, are the finest example of viruses emerging and reemerging. The complex host-pathogen ecology and the co-evolution of microbes with their hosts are linked to the emergence and reemergence of novel diseases. Human viral illness emergence and reemergence is an ongoing problem that affects a nation's social and economic growth.