COVID-19 annual update: a narrative review

Abstract

Three and a half years after the pandemic outbreak, now that WHO has formally declared that the emergency is over, COVID-19 is still a significant global issue. Here, we focus on recent developments in genetic and genomic research on COVID-19, and we give an outlook on state-of-the-art therapeutical approaches, as the pandemic is gradually transitioning to an endemic situation. The sequencing and characterization of rare alleles in different populations has made it possible to identify numerous genes that affect either susceptibility to COVID-19 or the severity of the disease. These findings provide a beginning to new avenues and pan-ethnic therapeutic approaches, as well as to potential genetic screening protocols. The causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, is still in the spotlight, but novel threatening virus could appear anywhere at any time. Therefore, continued vigilance and further research is warranted. We also note emphatically that to prevent future pandemics and other world-wide health crises, it is imperative to capitalize on what we have learnt from COVID-19: specifically, regarding its origins, the world’s response, and insufficient preparedness. This requires unprecedented international collaboration and timely data sharing for the coordination of effective response and the rapid implementation of containment measures.

Alterations in microbiota of patients with COVID‐19: implications for therapeutic interventions

“…The intervention of probiotics targeting gut microbiota may improve the problem of reduced immune response in frail individuals. 182 , 183 Furthermore, vaccine‐induced immune responses may vary greatly among individuals, and vaccines are less immunogenic in populations at the highest risk of infectious diseases. The composition and function of the gut microbiota may serve as key factors regulating the immune response to vaccines.…”

Characterizing a visual lateral flow device for rapid SARS-CoV-2 virus protein detection: pre-clinical and system assessment

“…1 The fast mutation rate of the virus to escape host immunity and enable reinfections is also responsible for different virus variants. [2][3][4] Although the COVID-19 situation is out of the global health emergency 5 and the pandemic is transitioning to an endemic phase, effective preventive and control measures are important. During the crisis, the enormous burden on public health resources, including diagnostic laboratories and healthcare personnel and facilities, has raised awareness about the urgent need for an effective and sensitive method for rapid screening and timely treatment.…”

“…1 The fast mutation rate of the virus to escape host immunity and enable reinfections is also responsible for different virus variants. 2–4…”

The anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine suppresses mithramycin-induced erythroid differentiation and expression of embryo-fetal globin genes in human erythroleukemia K562 cells

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has represented one of the major health problems since 2020 [1][2][3][4]. The fight against the COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been effective thanks to extensive vaccination campaigns that have been made possible by the approval of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines by the Regulatory Agencies [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Starting from these approvals, COVID-19 vaccines have been extensively tested and distributed worldwide [4][5][6].…”

“…The fight against the COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been effective thanks to extensive vaccination campaigns that have been made possible by the approval of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines by the Regulatory Agencies [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Starting from these approvals, COVID-19 vaccines have been extensively tested and distributed worldwide [4][5][6]. Thanks to the extensive use of COVID-19 vaccines and the improvement of the management of COVID-19 patients, the pandemic is at present under control, as stated by the recently issued WHO position (May 5 2023), concurring with the advice offered by the Report of the fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee.…”