A Journey From SARS-CoV-2 to COVID-19 and Beyond: A Comprehensive Insight of Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Overview of the Progress into Its Therapeutic Management

Abstract

The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), commonly known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was first revealed in late 2019 in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. It was subsequently spread globally and thereby declared as a pandemic by WHO in March 2020. The disease causes severe acute respiratory illness and is highly contagious due to the fast-onward transmission. As of the mid of November 2020, the disease has affected 220 countries with more than 16 million active cases and 1.3 million deaths worldwide. Males, pregnant women, the elderly, immunosuppressed patients, and those with underlying medical conditions are more vulnerable to the disease than the general healthy population. Unfortunately, no definite treatment is available. Although remdesivir as an antiviral had been approved for use in those above 12 years of age and 40 kg weight group, it has been observed to be ineffective in large-scale SOLIDARITY trials by WHO. Moreover, dexamethasone has been found to increase the recovery rate of ventilated patients; oxygen and inhaled nitric oxide as a vasodilator have been given emergency expanded access. In addition, more than 57 clinical trials are being conducted for the development of the vaccines on various platforms. Two vaccines were found to be significantly promising in phase III results. It is concluded that till the approval of a specific treatment or development of a vaccine against this deadly disease, the preventive measures should be followed strictly to reduce the spread of the disease.

Inhibition of coronavirus HCoV-OC43 by targeting the eIF4F complex

“…SARS-CoV-2 causes a potentially severe respiratory illness with mortality seen in 1%–10% ( Meyerowitz-Katz and Merone, 2020 ; Shoaib et al, 2021 ) of the aged population ( O'Driscoll et al, 2021 ). Several compounds that either modulate the human immune response or have anti-inflammatory effects have been evaluated in clinical trials, among which Paxlovid was recently approved by the FDA as an oral anti-viral treatment against SARS-CoV-2 ( Sanders et al, 2020 ; Mahase and Kmietowicz, 2021 ; Yousefi et al, 2021 ).…”

Integrative omics provide biological and clinical insights into acute respiratory distress syndrome

“…Furthermore, we observed some clinically instructive results by MR analysis. Elevated levels of CRP and IL-10 were commonly happened in severe COVID-19 patients [ 33 ], and IBD patients were at higher risk of developing severity [ 34 ]; in contrast, vasodilator use and vitamin D supplements might reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and mortality [ 35 , 36 ]. These clinical observations were consistent with their causal associations with ARDS development, which may guide the ARDS care management, especially during COVID-19 severe progression.…”

Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Virus Strains Variation of Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2 in Jiangsu Province—A Retrospective Study

“…It is assumed that gender differences in susceptibility toward SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with the immune response (26). The data of 10 European countries on the distribution of SARS-COV-2 cases by gender showed that women of working age outnumbered infected men (27). Interestingly, it is reported that male sex is one of the major risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 disease (19)(20)(21).…”