Simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 and pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with real-time isothermal platform.

The recent ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (known as COVID-19) is a severe threat to human health worldwide. By press time, more than 3.3 million people have died from COVID-19, with many countries experiencing peaks in infections and hospitalizations. The main symptoms of infection with SARS-CoV-2 include fever, chills, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches and pains. While the symptoms of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus have many similarities to the signs and transmission routes of the novel coronavirus, e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. And a few cases of serious illness, rapid progress, can appear viral pneumonia, combined with respiratory failure, multiple organ function damage, serious people can die. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a rapid and accurate field diagnostic method to effectively identify the two viruses and treat these early infections on time, thus helping to control the spread of the disease. Among molecular detection methods, RT-LAMP (real-time reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification) has some advantages in pathogen detection due to its rapid, accurate and effective detection characteristics. Here, we combined the primers of the two viruses with the fluorescent probes on the RT-LAMP detection platform to detect the two viruses simultaneously. Firstly, RT-LAMP method was used respectively to detect the two viruses at different concentrations to determine the effectiveness and sensitivity of probe primers to the RNA samples. And then, the two virus samples were detected simultaneously in the same reaction tube to validate if testing for the two viruses together had an impact on the results compared to detecting alone. We verified the detection efficiency of three highly active BST variants during RT-LAMP assay. We expect that this assay can effectively and accurately distinguish COVID-19 from the pandemic (H1N1) 2009, so that these two diseases with similar symptoms can be appropriately differentiated and treated.

In quest of small-molecules as potent non-competitive inhibitors against influenza.

A series of scaffolds namely aurones, 3-indolinones, 4-quinolones and cinnamic acid-piperazine hybrids, was designed, synthesized and investigated in vitro against influenza A/H1N1pdm09 virus. Designed molecules adopted different binding mode i.e., in 430-cavity of neuraminidase, unlike sialic acid and oseltamivir in molecular docking studies. All molecules reduced the viral titer and exhibited non-cytotoxicity along with cryo-protective property towards MDCK cells. Molecules (Z)-2-(3'-Chloro-benzylidene)-1,2-dihydro-indol-3-one (2f), (Z)-2-(4'-Chloro-benzylidene)-1,2-dihydro-indol-3-one (2g) and 2-(2'-Methoxy-phenyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one (3a) were the most interesting molecules identified in this research, endowed with robust potencies showing low-nanomolar EC50 values of 4.0 nM, 6.7 nM and 4.9 nM, respectively, compared to reference competitive and non-competitive inhibitors: oseltamivir (EC50 = 12.7 nM) and quercetin (EC50 = 0.56 µM), respectively. Besides, 2f, 2g and 3a exhibited good neuraminidase inhibitory activity in sub-micromolar range (IC50 = 0.52 µM, 3.5 µM, 1.3 µM respectively). Moreover, these molecules were determined as non-competitive inhibitors similar to reference non-competitive inhibitor quercetin unlike reference competitive inhibitor oseltamivir in kinetics studies.

Reverse Zoonosis of COVID-19: Lessons From the 2009 Influenza Pandemic.

Over the past decade, pandemics caused by pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza virus in 2009 and severe acute respiratory syndrome virus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 have emerged. Both are high-impact respiratory pathogens originating from animals. Their wide distribution in the human population subsequently results in an increased risk of human-to-animal transmission: reverse zoonosis. Although there have only been rare reports of reverse zoonosis events associated with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from SARS-CoV-2 so far, comparison with the pH1N1 influenza pandemic can provide a better understanding of the possible consequences of such events for public and animal health. The results of our review suggest that similar factors contribute to successful crossing of the host species barriers in both pandemics. Specific risk factors include sufficient interaction between infected humans and recipient animals, suitability of the animal host factors for productive virus infection, and suitability of the animal host population for viral persistence. Of particular concern is virus spread to susceptible animal species, in which group housing and contact network structure could potentially result in an alternative virus reservoir, from which reintroduction into humans can take place. Virus exposure in high-density populations could allow sustained transmission in susceptible animal species. Identification of the risk factors and serological surveillance in SARS-CoV-2-susceptible animal species that are group-housed should help reduce the threat from reverse zoonosis of COVID-19.

ECMO use in COVID-19: lessons from past respiratory virus outbreaks-a narrative review.

The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to grow exponentially in most countries, posing an unprecedented burden on the healthcare sector and the world economy. Previous respiratory virus outbreaks, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pandemic H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), have provided significant insights into preparation and provision of intensive care support including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Many patients have already been supported with ECMO during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and it is likely that many more may receive ECMO support, although, at this point, the role of ECMO in COVID-19-related cardiopulmonary failure is unclear. Here, we review the experience with the use of ECMO in the past respiratory virus outbreaks and discuss potential role for ECMO in COVID-19.

[Comparison of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of SARS, pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and COVID-19, and consideration of the prevention and control strategies on COVID-19].

In this paper, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and COVID-19 were compared. Compared with the other two diseases, COVID-19 is more contagious, more concealed in transmission, greater infectious intensity and more severe in clinical manifestations. If the COVID-19 epidemic was not effectively controlled, it would have a serious impact on human health and even social development. Understanding the characteristics of three diseases, especially COVID-19, and improving the awareness of the harmfulness of COVID-19 are of certain significance to the implementation of the guiding principle of "scientific prevention and treatment, precise implementation of strategies" and the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Echoes of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic in the COVID Pandemic.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) pandemic that has engulfed the globe has had incredible effects on health care systems and economic activity. Social distancing and school closures have played a central role in public health efforts to counter the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID)-19 pandemic. The most recent global pandemic prior to COVID-19 was the 2009 pandemic, hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1 (H1N1) influenza. The course of events in 2009 offer some rich lessons that could be applied to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This commentary highlights some of the most relevant points and a discussion of possible outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic.