Molecular basis of COVID-19 pathogenesis

Abstract

The review summarizes the publications, available at the time it was written, addressing the chemical and biological processes that occur in the human body upon exposure to coronaviruses, in particular SARS-CoV-2. The mechanisms of viral particle entry into the cell, viral replication and impact on the immune system and on oxygen transport system are considered. The causes behind complications of the viral infection, such as vasculitis, thrombosis, cytokine storm and lung fibrosis, are discussed. The latest research in the field of small molecule medications to counteract the virus is surveyed. Molecular targets and possible vectors to exploit them are considered. The review is primarily written for specialists who want to understand the chains of activation, replication, action and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Due to the short period of such studies, the data on complexes of small molecule compounds with possible protein targets are not numerous, but they will be useful in the search and synthesis of new potentially effective drugs. The bibliography includes 144 references.

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

“…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] ...…”

Design and Evaluation of Bispidine-Based SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors

“…Each stage of the virus life cycle can be a potential target for drug therapy. 2 Papain-like (PLpro) and 3-chymotrypsin-like (3CLpro), also called the major proteases, are vital for viral replication, and their function is to cleave the two translatable viral polyproteins (1A and 1AB) into functional components. Because of its small size, as well as its high homology to similar proteins of the coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS atypical pneumonias, the SARS-CoV-2 major protease is the most characterized target for potential antiviral drugs.…”

Borneol Ester Derivatives as Entry Inhibitors of a Wide Spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 Viruses

“…The etiological agent of COVID-19 is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA-containing viruses with a genome of up to 30,000 base pairs in size and a virion diameter of approximately 120 nm [4]. A characteristic feature of viral particles is the S spikes on their surface.…”