The deadly coronaviruses: The 2003 SARS pandemic and the 2020 novel coronavirus epidemic in China

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented devastation, humanity needs an urgent cure to save the mankind from this deadly disease. Over six million people have been infected worldwide, with 6.3% reported deaths till date. SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease has been isolated recently and the vaccine's development is at nascent stage. At present, there are a few anecdotal evidences that anti-viral/anti-in ammatory/anti-malarial drugs can mitigate the disease. In the present study, we envision the potency of traditional Indian medicinal compounds that can be used as an effective drug. The viral SARS Coronavirus E protein plays a key role in virus life cycle and can be a potential drug target for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. Using the crystal structure of the CoVE protein, we performed virtual PyRX screening of Indian medicinal compounds which are reported to have e cacy in the treatment of some viral infections. Molecular docking studies were evaluated based on scores analysed by CavityPlus. The herbal compounds used were found to be more e cient in inhibiting the virus as compared to commercially available drugs. The results showed that β-boswellic acid and Glycyrrhizic acid possessed the best binding as a ligand with target molecule having binding a nity of-9.1 kcal/mol amongst eleven compounds screened. The study demonstrated that these are found to be strong SARS-CoV-2E protein inhibitors as they revealed compatible, near perfect dock in the overlapping region of functional viral protein pockets. These potential hit compounds can pave a way for designing of anti-viral therapeutics.

Comparative computational analysis of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein epitopes in taxonomically related coronaviruses

“…The present study provides an in-silico survey of the major epitope sequences of the nucleocapsid protein from taxonomically related coronaviruses. Coronavirus infections and outbreaks were already registered in the past decades in both humans and animals [8,9]. Thus, investigating whether immunological features of taxonomically related viruses are shared with the SARS-CoV-2 might be helpful for planning innovative diagnostic and prophylactic interventions.…”

“…Nevertheless, the last two decades have already seen a couple of severe manifestations of the coronavirus infection. The first outbreak was described as the SARS epidemy registered in 2003 in China [8]; whereas a second coronavirus outbreak, known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), dates back to 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Besides humans [9], SARS viruses are able to infecting a wide plethora of animals such as birds and mammals, including synanthropic birds, dogs, camels, dromedaries, and pangolins [10].…”

Recommendations for coronavirus infection in rheumatic diseases treated with biologic therapy

“…A potential role for anti-IL1 biologics could be hypothesized from data showing an activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by SARS-CoV, with secretion of IL-1β. Studies have demonstrated that inflammasome activation also occurs in SARS-CoV2 infection, especially within lymphoid cells and patients have increased serum IL-1β [14]. Another potential treatment under evaluation for SARS-CoV2 related acute respiratory disease is baricitinib, an oral drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis patients that functions as a blocker of Janus Kinases (JAK) 1 and 2, enzymes associated with intracellular signaling, including Type I and type II IFN signaling.…”

“…Likewise, social and health policy, information and containment measures are based on what has been learned from previous epidemics, in order to optimize the current measures. From the epidemiology of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2 in China we have learned how fundamental are measures such as early recognition of the problem, strict infection control and identification of infected patients, isolation measures, inclusion and formation of new medical and sanitary staff in the health system, designation of new hospital wards with appropriate equipment and information through the mass and social media [14]. As part of these measures, recently, the Italian Society of Rheumatology has proposed a set of practical recommendations to improve the management of CoViD-19 patients and to decrease the risk of acquiring this infection in particular in rheumatic patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapies (Table 1).…”

COVID-19 in a patient with long-term use of glucocorticoids: A study of a familial cluster

“…Due to the high viral contagiousness and transmission during the presymptomatic phase [3,4], COVID-19 progressively spread throughout China and has since become a global health issue [5]. In China, Wuhan city, the capital of Hubei province, became the center of a COVID-19 outbreak [6]. In an effort to prevent a COVID-19 epidemic, Wuhan and its surrounding cities in Hubei province were locked down on January 23rd.…”