Biomarkers of COVID-19 and technologies to combat SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Due to the unprecedented public health crisis caused by COVID-19, our first contribution to the newly launching journal, Advances in Biomarker Sciences and Technology , has abruptly diverted to focus on the current pandemic. As the number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise steadily around the world, the common goal of healthcare providers, scientists, and government officials worldwide has been to identify the best way to detect the novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, and to treat the viral infection – COVID-19. Accurate detection, timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and future prevention are the vital keys to management of COVID-19, and can help curb the viral spread. Traditionally, biomarkers play a pivotal role in the early detection of disease etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. To assist myriad ongoing investigations and innovations, we developed this current article to overview known and emerging biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 detection, COVID-19 diagnostics, treatment and prognosis, and ongoing work to identify and develop more biomarkers for new drugs and vaccines. Moreover, biomarkers of socio-psychological stress, the high-technology quest for new virtual drug screening, and digital applications are described.

Current state of diagnostic, screening and surveillance testing methods for COVID-19 from an analytical chemistry point of view

“…These emerging techniques are of vital importance for COVID-19 detection, monitorization, diagnose, screening and surveillance. A number of approaches used either alone or in combination with others may be the subject of mention: (i) single stranded nucleic acid oligonucleotide bioinspired receptor molecule aptamer-based detection; (ii) molecular imprinting technology-based detection; (iii) protein parallel high-throughput multifunctional microarray tools; (iv) agglutination tests; (v) highly sensitivity and specificity paper-based devices multiple DNA targets detection; (vi) simultaneous targets multiplexed LFIA recognition; (vii) new biomarkers approaches [22] , [61] , [192] , e.g. breath analysis; (viii) decentralization setting, e.g.…”

“…within the beginning of the pandemic to August 2020. Table S1 (supplementary material) presents a classification of the published reviews based on their main purposes: (i) reviews and minireviews about the main advances carried out in the diagnostic tests in the last months, together with a critical discussion about their utility [2] , [3] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] ; (ii) information about the biosensors and the nanotechnology is presented as a useful tool to develop new strategies for the detection of the infection and also for its treatment [8] , [11] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] ; (iii) different point of view about how the artificial intelligence (AI) can be presented as a versatile tool to control the pandemic and, even more interesting, in containing the spread of the virus [20] , [68] , [69] ; (iv) current and update information about the structure and genomic of SARS-CoV-2 [70] , [71] , [72] , [73] ...…”

SARS-CoV-2: Targeted managements and vaccine development

“…Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp is sponsoring two vaccines. The V590 vaccine is based on the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) platform and shuttles a gene coding for the spike protein in a phase I clinical trial, not yet recruiting (NCT04569786) [ 149 , 150 ]. The V591 vaccine uses the attenuated measles vector platform to carry a gene coding for the spike protein and will be evaluated in a phase 1/II currently recruiting (NCT04498247) [ 150 ].…”

Value of digital biomarkers in precision medicine: implications in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and COVID-19

“…Analytics for large volumes of data are usually leveraged to delineate trends and infer patterns at individual and population levels. We stress that an extension of the definition of DB is needed [9][10][11]. While continuing with the measurement of physiological parameters, the point of leverage would be the inclusion of other types of digital information sources: examples include next-generation mobile sensors and detectors with integrated solutions from the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) platforms.…”