Coronaviruses - Volume 2, Issue 3, 2021

Currently, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has transformed into a severe public health crisis and wreaking havoc worldwide. The ongoing pandemic has exposed the public healthcare system's weaknesses, and highlighted the urgent need for investments in scientific programs and policies. A comprehensive program utilizing the science and technology-driven strategies combined with well-resourced healthcare organizations appears to be essential for current and future outbreak management.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a pathogenic and transmittable viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and this disease emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It was later spread across the world, including the United States, Great Britain, Brazil, Russia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Iran, Pakistan, India and other countries. The whole genome of SARS-CoV-2 shared some similarity with the SARS virus, hence bat was a suspected source of the spread of this virus in China. However, human to human transfer was reported. In India, more than 300 COVID-19 cases were reported on March 21, 2020, and these numbers were increased as 892551 on July 13, 2020. These numbers of COVID-19 cases were detected from a total of 11806256 samples according to the report given by the Government of India. On July 13, Maharashtra state of India recorded a total of 254427 cases and 10289 deaths were registered. Tamilnadu was another state that screened more number of COVID-19 cases, followed by Maharashtra. On July 6, 114978 COVID-19 cases were reported in Tamilnadu and 1571 deaths were recorded. In Tamilnadu alone, over 3000 COVID-19 cases were reported daily from July first week to the second week and total cases were 142798 on July 13, 2020. Among these cases, 78573 COVID-19 cases were detected in Chennai city alone accounted for about 62% of total COVID-19 cases. It was earlier believed that patients over aged 60 and less than 10 were highly vulnerable to this disease. However, this disease affected all age groups. To prevent COVID-19, no approved antiviral vaccine or drug has yet been discovered. COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets during coughing and sneezing by symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as washing hands and social distancing are effective measures to control COVID-19 transmission in India. The present study was designed to analyze the control measures of COVID-19 infection and ground reality to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

The pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has emerged as the most threatening public health challenge. The clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic and mild clinical symptoms to acute respiratory-distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. Apart from the respiratory system, other organ systems like cardiovascular, renal, and gastrointestinal systems are also involved. Cytokine storm is a condition of systemic inflammatory cytokine rampage through the bloodstream leading to lifethreatening complications. There is an urgent need for the prevention of infection and effective management. Yoga is a profound science with both immunity-boosting and immune-modulating capacity. We propose that yoga-based intervention may aid in improving health with its immunity-boosting potential and preventing the exuberant inflammatory cytokine storm, thus reducing the severity of the disease. It can also reduce stress, anxiety, and co-morbid depression by promoting neuroplasticity and prevents persistent activation of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis and thus may reduce disease severity. It may also enhance the immunity of caretakers and make them more emotionally resilient. Thus, yoga can be useful for enhancing immunity, stress reduction and may prevent the exaggerated immune response to the cytokine storm.

Background: Recently emerged COVID-19 pandemic has caused a large number of deaths with lacs of confirmed cases worldwide posturing a grim situation and severe threat to public health. There is an imperative necessity of analyzing emerging clinical and laboratory data of COVID-19 patients, which may contribute to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism and development of effective prevention and treatment countermeasures. Methods: Under this article, the emerging role of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) was analyzed by collecting recently published articles related to this field having clinical data of COVID-19 patients. Results: Based on the recently published reports of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infected hospitalized patients it was consistently observed that levels of HDL were low at the time of admission to hospital and remained relatively low during the disease course i.e., treatment, recovery, and discharge stage. It was also reported critically that levels of HDL in the patients, those did not survive, decreased continuously until death. Conclusion: These clinical reports of patients have risen the concern about probable infection and worsen the clinical outcome of a healthy person having a compromised level of HDL for COVID-19 infection. Eventually, these findings stated that there is a strong association of low HDL levels with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and further severity of the illness. Proper attention is needed to understand the significance of altered quantity and quality of HDL in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls, so that appropriate therapies could be given at the right time to combat severity and mortality due to this infection.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a transmissible illness produced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has now quickly expanded since its outbreak in Wuhan City of Hubei region of China to the other parts of the world. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the spread of COVID-19 emerges typically human- to-humans through respiratory droplets within an area of 1-2 meters. Aims and Objective: In the present perspective, we have discussed some of the measures taken to prevent and treat the patients suffering from COVID-19, and how to restrict further spread of COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2. Results: The general clinical properties are fever, cough, sore throat, headache, tiredness, myalgia and difficulty in breathing. Presently no approved treatments for COVID-19, as of now, no pharmaceutical products have been revealed to be harmless and efficient for the management of COVID-19. Various anti-viral medicines e.g. ribavirin, lopinavir, and ritonavir have been utilized supported on the familiarity with SARS and MERS. Many drugs and vaccines are currently being studied in clinical trials, jointly (Solidarity trial) co-sponsored by the WHO. Conclusion: The use of a mask by fit people in community areas to guard against respiratory viral disease is presently recommended by WHO. Patients must be kept in individual rooms, the rooms, surfaces and equipment should go through standard sanitization, possibly with sodium hypochlorite. Consequently, apart from restricting this epidemic, efforts should be made to plan wide-ranging procedures to thwart potential outbreaks of the zoonotic sources.

Introduction: Of late, a number of contemporary articles in prestigious scientific platforms have shown that COVID-19 has questioned the global health expertise of major developed countries like the USA, the UK, and other European nations and has also raised concerns over the international health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO). With the advent of this worldwide pandemic, the WHO has admitted that they faltered in managing the crisis efficiently. The objective of this article is to highlight the fact that as there was no specific vaccine or treatment at hand when the pandemic broke out, and that the portfolio available with these nations under the directions of the WHO to counter COVID-19 was indeed limited. There was no other alternative in this time of an unprecedented emergency on a global scale. As such, whatever immediate steps were disseminated by the WHO to contain the virus's spread were indeed justified. Methods: Specifically employing secondary research and using the available literature on the internet and library sources, a survey of published articles in leading journals of the world was carried out to investigate and analyze the position of the WHO and its future strategies in dealing with the world's most unprecedented pandemic. Results and Conclusion: The present research and findings suggest that a large-scale fund allocation from every member country’s defence budget in a fixed percentage contribution might help in an attempt to create an initiative, Health for All. Such an initiative will help in substantially replenishing the already depleting funding of the World Health Organization. This will enable effective control of the global pandemic crisis with significant international cooperation, allowing collaboration and sharing of the financial burden. The specially created fund can be used under international monitoring for such unprecedented calamities in the near future if any such pandemic arises again. More focus can thus be given to special training of manpower, advancements in the protective equipment, development of vaccines, critical care hospitals, and centers on a global basis. Healthcare must become the new frontier of international cooperation and governance.

The emerging novel coronavirus disease 2019 has caused a global outbreak and significant public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a coronavirus disease outbreak a pandemic with a global public health emergency of international concern. As of now, 12th April 2020 almost 18,37,404 cases have been confirmed globally (in 209 countries) with almost 1,13,274 fatalities. This increasing number has created anxiety throughout the world, which has severely affected the whole world's culture, societies, behavioral patterns, peace and economics. At present, research on novel coronavirus is in the preliminary stage. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral to treat coronavirus disease. Also, very few case studies are available; hence it has become difficult to treat and to control this pandemic situation. In view of this, the present systematic review is done to highlight clinical epidemiology features, radiographic characteristics, and potential drugs based on available clinical case reports. Biomarkers for early diagnosis and impact of age, sex, pre-existing comorbidity on COVID-19 is also discussed. Further, this paper also outlines various possible antiviral chemical drug agents that can be potential and promising to treat this coronavirus disease in 2019. This review may be helpful for the medical practitioner, public health workers and government authorities to manage and deal with novel coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: COVID-19 is a new, health-threatening infectious disease in the world in 2020 and is caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. As of July 13, 2020, 4,881,579 active cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, and 571,080 deaths were reported globally. In India, 301,850 active cases and 23,187 deaths were reported. To date, no effective treatment is available against the deadly virus SARS-CoV-2. Drug manufacturers, institutional laboratories, and other organizations have started developing vaccines to combat COVID-19 infection. Methods: Science Direct, Elsevier, PubMed, Scopus, and Nature databases were referred to know the current scenario of the disease. Moreover, recent data have been obtained from the World Health Organization, Centre of Disease Control, case studies, newspapers, and Worldometer reports. Data of Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Clinicaltrials.gov, and US National Library of Medicine have also been accessed to obtain the latest information about ongoing clinical trials. Results: The primary source of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is connected to the Hunan seafood and live animal market in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China. Like; SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV- 2 is also a zoonotic virus affecting the lower respiratory tract in humans. The pathogenesis of COVID- 19 involves attachment of its Spike (S) protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in the lower respiratory tract in humans. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, myalgia, septic shock, and breathlessness. Few patients with COVID-19 infection experience diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Currently, FDA approved drugs being used to treat COVID-19. Conclusion: This review article presents the importance of traditional Indian herbs recommended by AYUSH as precautionary and curative measures of COVID-19 until vaccines and drugs are made available. Moreover, this article discussed the origin, symptoms, mode of transmission, management, and diagnostics techniques for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Background: The positive sense and inordinate large RNA genome enclosed by helical nucleocapsids along with an outermost layer belongs to the family Coronaviridae. The phylogenetic tree of this family has been classified into Class1 as alpha, Class 2 as beta, Class 3 as gamma, and Class 4 as delta CoV. The mammalian respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are the main target organs of this enveloped virus with misperceived mechanisms. The relevance of this virus family has considerably increased by the recent emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which are caused by viruses that belong to the beta-CoV group. Aim: Aforesaid illustrations of the emergence of coronavirus diseases over the past two decades, SARS (2002; 2003) and MERS (2012 to present) - the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has pressurized the WHO to take innovative measures for public health, research and medical communities. The aim of the present review is to have proficiency in the coronavirus replication and transcription process which is still in its infancy. Conclusion: As an outcome of epidemics, it is being recognized as one of the most advancing viruses by the virtue of high genomic nucleotide substitution rates and recombination. The hallmark of coronavirus replication is discontinuous transcription resulting in the production of multiple subgenomic mRNAs having sequences complementary to both ends of the genome. Therefore, the complete genome sequence of coronavirus will be used as a frame of reference for comprehending this classical phenomenon of the RNA replication process. Finally, research on the pathogenesis of coronaviruses and the host immunopathological response will aid in designing vaccines and minimizing the mortality rate.

Introduction: COVID-19 presents a global emergency in recent days and as a consequence, the whole world is in a state of war. Continuous efforts by researchers are being made to establish a sound scientific understanding regarding the behavior of the virus and its pathogenesis. Background: In recent days, a lot of scientific data are published describing viral transfusion into host cells, compared with SARS-CoV-1, viability of SARS-CoV-2, fatality and diagnosis of infection among infected patients, thereby, motivating to make right decisions in order to treat and mitigate COVID-19. Review Results: Coronaviruses usually affect the respiratory tract and produce symptoms similar to pneumonia with varied complications. The spike protein on the surface of the virus makes the SARSCoV- 2 phylogenetically different from other viruses of the corona family. SARS-CoV-2 has an affinity to angiotensin converting enzyme-2 receptors present on human cells. The fatality of the disease is found to be low, but the severity of the disease might vary from person to person. The incubation period is 14 days but the symptoms like dry cough and high fever are evident around 3-7 days. Already known anti-inflammatory immunomodulators and antiviral drugs are being tested and still under clinical trials. Conclusion: In this review, we are providing an insight into emergence of COVID-19 , its correlation with SARS-CoV-1 and the interpretation of global data representing the severity of unexpected dangers for humanity. Certain structural aspects and studies determining the viability of novel coronavirus have also been described. Moreover, case studies of recovered infected patients from COVID-19 explain the progression and patients’ pathophysiological conditions while suffering from the infection. Clinical Significance: There are many current strategies which are being tried and practiced to overcome this pandemic disease apart from precautionary measures. Although now, some decline has been seen, but the question still remains the same of whether the scientists are approaching towards the clinical solution, or are still in the midstream. This requires more study and intensive research to finally come to a concrete conclusion.

The devastating COVID 19 Pandemic, which set an outbreak by the end of 2019, has led the whole world into an alarming situation. So, considering the need of the time, we decided to put some light on the important aspects of the pandemic. Here we have discussed the different coronaviruses which can affect humans and also how this new coronavirus is different than the previously identified coronaviruses. In general, SARS CoV-2 is elaborated along with origin, virology, and transmission. The disease (COVID 19) is studied and briefed for its prognosis and symptoms and as to how the detection of the infection is done. As we know that we have not found any full proof solution for this outbreak but can fight it to save mankind, the need for new drug development and the current scenario on available options is discussed along with how the world is combatting the situation to stop its spread. Also, the common myths among the public about the disease are busted here. The paper is concluded with the current statistics of the outbreak. The purpose of this paper is to provide the general public with some know-how of the pandemic.

Background: During the eleven months of the novel SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) outbreak in China and its global spread, there is a remarkable understanding of its epidemiology, pathobiology, and clinical management strategies. While countering a heavy toll on health and the economy, world’s regional authorities are enforcing safety guidelines and providing patient care. Currently, there is no globally approved treatment or intervention for COVID-19. Methods: A structured online literature search for peer-reviewed articles was conducted on PubMed, Europe PMC, Google, WHO, CDC, FDA, and ClinicalTrials portals, using phrases such as COVID-19 treatment and intervention, COVID-19 drugs and COVID-19 vaccines. Results: Analysis of the retrieved data showed that as a part of ‘Solidarity Clinical Trials’, hundreds of treatment and intervention strategies, including antiviral drugs, cytokine antagonists, convalescent plasma therapy, and vaccine candidates, have been registered worldwide. While remdesivir, the anti- Ebola virus drug, has been approved as an ‘emergency use’ drug in the USA, favipiravir, the anti-flu drug, has been recently approved in Russia. Tocilizumab and sarilumab, the cytokine (IL-6) antagonists, have entered Phase-II/III clinical trials in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Among the leading vaccine candidates, Phase-III clinical trial results of Moderna, Pfizer and Oxford vaccines seem to be game changers for COVID19. Conclusion: The world health authorities have strongly and quickly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, world bodies must unite in combating this health crisis by developing cost-effective drugs and vaccines and making them accessible to resource-poor countries.

Background: Surprisingly, all the developed countries across the world are reeling under death due to the Coronavirus infection cases (COVID 19), but a developing country like India with the second largest population still here, the casualty is very less and recovery rate is very high due to the strong immunity of the people, vaccination regime for other diseases and hot and humid condition of the country. Objective: Yet, the greatest number of cases are in the State of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana the Western, Central, and Southern part of the country surprisingly the Eastern part of the country have a less number of active cases and also the mortality except for West Bengal. Conclusion: In the State of Jharkhand very less number of active cases i.e., 2785 and mortality is only 49, is there any role of geographical condition or there is some strong genetic form so that the inhabitants have very strong immune resistance to develop the infection initiated by the virus. In this review, these questions are in focus and may be solved.

Background: B814, now’s called Coronavirus first identified by Tyrrell and Bynoe in 1965 from the respiratory tract (embryonic tracheal) of an adult and later on during working on National Institutes of Health Robert Chanock used the term “OC” for same virus strain. After several years researchers reported that coronaviruses were caused disease in rats, mice, chickens, turkeys, calves, dogs, cats, rabbits etc. after effecting the enormous variety of animal, in year 2002-2003 it caused new respiratory disease named severe acute respiratory syndrome, (SARS) in southern China. Objective: The main objective of this article is to compare the status of various previous pandemics (i.e., SARS, MERS) with the current COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the life cycle, diagnosis process and prevention. Results: On 31st December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) office in China received information regarding pneumonia cases of unknown etiology from the Wuhan district in central China. Subsequently, this new disease spread to China, and from there, to the rest of the world. By the end of March 2020, more than 2 million cases were confirmed of this new disease, with over 70000 deaths worldwide. After some time, researchers have identified that this new disease is caused by a novel beta- Coronavirus (virus SARS-CoV-2) and the new disease was named COVID-19. Since then, the Ministry of Health of various countries and WHO have been fighting this health emergency, which has not only affected public health, but also affected various economic sectors. Conclusion: The current outbreak SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetically resembled to Bat SARS, which was previously identified in year 2002 and 2012 having low mortality rate than MERS and SARS. However, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS having high virological similarity but both use different receptors to take entry in to the host cell via ACE-2 and DPP-4 respectively. Unfortunately, currently there is no approved treatment available worldwide. Currently, we can hope that together we will recover from this public health emergency very soon.

Background: The Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) declared novel Coronavirus (nCoV-2019) outbreaks in 2019 as pandemic. Methods: This research work made an analysis of the nCoV-2019 outbreak in India solely based on a mathematical model. Results: The historical epidemics in the world are plague, AIDS, Swine flu, ebola, zika virus, Black Death and SARS. Considering the model used for SARS 2003, the present research on COVID-2019 estimates characteristics of the rate of infections (I) and rate of recovery(R), which leads to the estimation of the I and R leading to predict the number of infections and recovery. Through ruling out the unpredictable and unreasonable data, the model predicts that the number of the cumulative 2019-nCoV cases may reach from 3398458 (mid of May) to 15165863, with a peak of the unrecovered infection (2461434-15165863) occurring in late April to late July. In this paper, we predicate how the confirmed infected cases would rapidly decrease until late March to July in India. We also focus on how the Government of Odisha (a state of India) creates history in the protective measures of COVID-19. Conclusion: The growing infected cases may get reduced by 70-79% by strong anti-epidemic measures. The enforcement of shutdown, lockdown, awareness, and improvement of medical and health care could also lead to about one-half transmission decrease and constructively abridge the duration of the 2019 n- CoV.

Purpose: A new human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), triggering pneumonia, is termed as Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). There is an alarming situation now as this new virus is spreading around the world. At present, there are no specific treatments for COVID-19. Nigella sativa is known as Prophetic Medicine as its use has been mentioned in Prophetic Hadith, as a natural remedy for all the diseases except death. Seeds and oils of N. sativa have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicine such as Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha in the treatment of different diseases and ailments. The aim of this research is to provide a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. Methods: The Molecular docking tool was used to optimize the binding affinities of chemical constituents of N. sativa with SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. Results: Many constituents from N. Sativa have shown better binding affinity than reported drugs with SARS-CoV-2 M^pro i.e., the alpha-hederin, Stigmasterol glucoside, Nigellidine-4-O-sulfite, Nigellidine, Sterol-3-β-D-glucoside, Dithymoquinone, beta-sitosterol have binding affinities (kcal/mol) of -9, -8.1, -8, -7.7, -7.7, -7.4, -7.4, and -6.9 and number of hydrogen bonds formed are 06, 04, 03, 03, 03, 00, and 01, respectively. Conclusion: There is rationale and pre-clinical evidence of the effectiveness of N. Sativa that it may be helpful for the treatment of COVID-19 and can serve as a potential natural candidate. However, more studies should be conducted to collect high-quality data and scientific evidence of N. Sativa to use it against COVID-19 clinically.