RespiCoV: Simultaneous identification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and 46 respiratory tract viruses and bacteria by amplicon-based Oxford-Nanopore MinION sequencing.

Since December 2019 the world has been facing the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Identification of infected patients and discrimination from other respiratory infections have so far been accomplished by using highly specific real-time PCRs. Here we present a rapid multiplex approach (RespiCoV), combining highly multiplexed PCRs and MinION sequencing suitable for the simultaneous screening for 41 viral and five bacterial agents related to respiratory tract infections, including the human coronaviruses NL63, HKU1, OC43, 229E, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. RespiCoV was applied to 150 patient samples with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared with specific real-time PCR. Additionally, several respiratory tract pathogens were identified in samples tested positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2. Finally, RespiCoV was experimentally compared to the commercial RespiFinder 2SMART multiplex screening assay (PathoFinder, The Netherlands).

Genome Sequences of the Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) and the Kappa Variant (B.1.617.1) Detected in Morocco.

Here, we report the identification and coding-complete genome sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains obtained from patients with COVID-19. The strains identified belong to variant of concern B.1.617.2 and variant of interest B.1.617.1.

Effect of identified non-synonymous mutations in DPP4 receptor binding residues among highly exposed human population in Morocco to MERS-CoV through computational approach.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) has been identified as the main receptor of MERS-CoV facilitating its cellular entry and enhancing its viral replication upon the emergence of this novel coronavirus. DPP4 receptor is highly conserved among many species, but the genetic variability among direct binding residues to MERS-CoV restrained its cellular tropism to humans, camels and bats. The occurrence of natural polymorphisms in human DPP4 binding residues is not well characterized. Therefore, we aimed to assess the presence of potential mutations in DPP4 receptor binding domain (RBD) among a population highly exposed to MERS-CoV in Morocco and predict their effect on DPP4 -MERS-CoV binding affinity through a computational approach. DPP4 synonymous and non-synonymous mutations were identified by sanger sequencing, and their effect were modelled by mutation prediction tools, docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to evaluate structural changes in human DPP4 protein bound to MERS-CoV S1 RBD protein. We identified eight mutations, two synonymous mutations (A291 =, R317 =) and six non-synonymous mutations (N229I, K267E, K267N, T288P, L294V, I295L). Through docking and MD simulation techniques, the chimeric DPP4 -MERS-CoV S1 RBD protein complex models carrying one of the identified non-synonymous mutations sustained a stable binding affinity for the complex that might lead to a robust cellular attachment of MERS-CoV except for the DPP4 N229I mutation. The latter is notable for a loss of binding affinity of DPP4 with MERS-CoV S1 RBD that might affect negatively on cellular entry of the virus. It is important to confirm our molecular modelling prediction with in-vitro studies to acquire a broader overview of the effect of these identified mutations.

Structure-guided discovery approach identifies potential lead compounds targeting Mpro of SARS-CoV-2.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become fatal for the world with affected population crossing over 25 million in more than 217 countries, consequently declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, neither specific prophylactic or therapeutic drugs nor vaccines are available. To address the unmet medical needs, we explored a strategy identifying new compounds targeting the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2. Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro crystal structure (PDB ID: 6LU7) a combination of in silico screening, molecular docking, and dynamic approaches, a set of 5000 compounds of the ZINC database were screened. As a result, we identified and ranked the top 20 compounds based on the scores of ligand-interaction, their drug-likeness properties, and their predicted antiviral efficacies. The prominent drug-like and potent inhibitory compounds are 2-[2-(2-aminoacetyl) aminoacetyl] amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanamide (ZINC000004762511), 6'-fluoroaristeromycin (ZINC000001483267) and cyclo (L-histidyl-L-histidyl) (ZINC000005116916) scaffolds. Further in vitro and in vivo validations are required to demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities.

Nanobodies: an unexplored opportunity to combat COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus is capable of human-to-human transmission, and is spreading rapidly round the globe, with markedly high fatality rates. Unfortunately, there are neither vaccines nor specific therapies available to combat it, and the developments of such approaches depend on pursuing multiple avenues in biomedical science. Accordingly, in this paper we highlight one such avenue-nanobodies-for potential utility in therapeutic and diagnostic interventions to combat COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Coronavirus disease 2019-Historical context, virology, pathogenesis, immunotherapy, and vaccine development.

The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is causing great alarm around the world. The pathogen for COVID-19 - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - is the seventh known coronavirus to cause pneumonia in humans. While much remains unknown about SARS-CoV-2, physicians and researchers have begun to publish relevant findings, and much evidence is available on coronaviruses previously circulating in human and animal populations. In this review, we situate COVID-19 in its context as a transboundary viral disease, and provide a comprehensive discussion focused on the discovery, spread, virology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of this disease, its causative coronaviral pathogen, and approaches to combating the disease through immunotherapies and other treatments and vaccine development. An epidemiological survey revealed a potentially large number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers within the population, which may hamper efforts against COVID-19. Finally, we emphasize that vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, which may be developed by 2021, will be essential for prevention of COVID-19.