Coronaviruses - Volume 6, Issue 4, 2025

SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, resulted in a global pandemic, and there were millions of confirmed cases and deaths worldwide. The vaccines were developed and distributed to help control the spread of the virus. The numbers and information related to the COVID-19 pandemic have likely evolved. Therefore, rapid immunological epitope identification would be a useful screening technique for vaccine candidates.

The aim of this study is to anticipate the protective epitopes for vaccine development using bioinformatics methods and resources.

The SARS-CoV-2 genome and protein sequences were retrieved. Furthermore, using the ABCpred server, sequential B-cell epitope analysis was carried out. The Ellipro algorithm was used to forecast discontinuous B-cell epitopes. Moreover, by utilising the NetCTL server, a sequential T-cell epitope analysis was carried out. Furthermore, the 3D structure of the peptide was created using the PEP-FOLD3 server, and the 3D structure of the HLA molecule was identified using the homology modelling tool. The molecular docking was performed by AutoDock Vina.

There were 20 B-cell epitopes altogether, of which 11 are highly antigenic. After assessing the antigenicity and toxicity of each resultant epitope, it was determined that the epitope SVLYNLAPFFTFKCYG is highly antigenic. Then, out of the 6 T-cell epitopes we had found, “RSYSFRPTY” was chosen as the epitope most suited for further research. Consequently, 72.42% of the population is covered overall. The structure that was generated was refined and energy-minimized. RSYSFRPTY's binding affinity to the groove of HLA-B*15:01 was determined by docking study to be -7.5 kcal/mol. PyMOL's visualisation of the docking result for predicting binding sites.

The final B-cell and T-cell epitopes are “SVLYNLAPFFTFKCYG” and “RSYSFRPTY” in terms of antigenicity score and nonallergenic and nontoxic qualities. An in Silico study indicated that our hypothesised T-cell epitope “RSYSFRPTY” had a greater affinity for binding with its receptor, which might elicit an immune response against the omicron variant.

Influenza, caused by subtypes A and B of the influenza virus, can lead to mild or severe illness and cause secondary infections. High-risk groups include pregnant women, the elderly, and young children. Vaccination is the most effective prevention method. This research aims to evaluate influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyze factors influencing vaccination rates.

In this study, a random sample of 440 healthcare providers was selected. Data collection involved a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-designed questionnaire focusing on influenza knowledge, reasons for not getting vaccinated, and motivations for vaccine uptake. The questionnaire included 21 items on hindering factors and 6 on motivating factors. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the reliability of the measurement tool was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.

In this study, 42% of healthcare providers received the influenza vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 58% did not. Prior to the pandemic, only 30.9% had received the vaccine, compared to 69.1% who had not. Among those not vaccinated during COVID-19, the mean score for inhibitory factors was significantly higher at 46.9, versus 41.47 for those who were vaccinated. Vaccination rates varied significantly with age: 41.3% of those under 30 were vaccinated, 34.9% of those aged 30-40, and 54.5% of those over 40. Additionally, 78.9% of the participants were infected with COVID-19 during the study period.

The research findings indicate low influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare providers and the need for further education to increase staff awareness about the importance of vaccination, change individuals' perceptions of their susceptibility to influenza, and emphasize the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing the disease.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, recommended chemoprophylaxis with Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for asymptomatic healthcare workers treating patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease during the initial period of the pandemic. Compliance remains a major determining factor behind the success of any community prophylaxis program.

The study aimed to assess the extent of compliance with the HCQ prophylaxis schedule as per ICMR guidelines among healthcare workers and to find out the factors associated with compliance.

Informed consent was obtained from the study participants, and a questionnaire on parameters and associated factors affecting compliance were filled out by every study participant upon completion of their HCQ prophylaxis.

A total of 160 participants were enrolled in the study. The majority of the staff enrolled was the nursing staff (34%). 66% of the total participants were involved in the care of the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. The major source of information about HCQ prophylaxis for COVID-19 infection among all the participants was from the institutional circular (56%). 10% of healthcare workers believed that HCQ could give them 100% prevention against COVID-19 infection. 56% of the enrolled healthcare workers consumed the medicine on the same day of collection throughout the schedule. 24% of enrolled healthcare workers completed the full course as per ICMR guidelines. The most motivating factor for compliance was the presence of cases of COVID-19 in the hospital. The most common factor for lack of compliance among enrolled healthcare workers was cited to be no contact with COVID-19 positive patients.

In our study, 24% of healthcare workers enrolled for HCQ prophylaxis completed the full course of the prescribed regimen as per ICMR guidelines. The main reason for the lack of compliance was the absence of direct contact with COVID-19 positive patients, followed by fear of ADRs.

The devastating outcomes of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak have traumatized the world, as they are highly infectious and deliberately damage the respiratory tract. Although pregnant women are not at a higher risk of infection, this may result in more severe consequences than in the general population.

The Treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women is challenging for doctors, as they need to consider the safety of both the mother and fetus. In addition, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the safety, effectiveness, and possible adverse outcomes of drugs used in COVID-19 pregnant women because they are frequently excluded from clinical trials.

We briefly reviewed the pathophysiology; drugs currently being used in the treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women prohibited certain medications contraindicated during pregnancy. The safety of these drugs originates from small case studies or clinical trials of other diseases.

This study may be useful for medical professionals, related researchers, and people interested in COVID-19 treatment.

The efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission could significantly affect pollution and weather in most parts of the world due to the reduction of industrial activities and road transport. Hence, this systematic review aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution.

The keywords were searched in the online databases of Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane. We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA).

Generally ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, NOX, NO, SO2, CO, black carbon, BTX (benzene, toluene, and Xylene), NH3, HCHO, PAHs, CH4, Solid Waste, UFPs (Ultrafine particle, ≥115.5 nm)) decreased significantly during lockdown period due to restricted human activities. Noteworthy, controversial findings have been reported concerning O3 levels; most studies, especially in East Asia, reported enhancement in the levels of O3, which was mainly attributed to meteorology factors. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global health crisis, the improvement in worldwide air quality status was significant.

Generally, pollutants generated by industrial activities were observed to be significantly reduced during lockdowns.

To identify significant genes responsible for altering immune response in viral infections, including SARS, H1N1, Influenza, and Rhinovirus, as there are no previous studies that have analyzed these viral infections together.

Viral infection datasets pertaining to SARS, H1N1, Influenza, and Rhinovirus were obtained from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus. We have used three GEO datasets with accession numbers: GSE47962, GSE48466, and GSE71766. The Differentially Expressed Genes (DEG’s) were identified from each of the datasets, and then common DEGs were extracted. Protein-Protein-Interaction (PPI) network was constructed for the common DEGs obtained in all the virus datasets. Finally, we analyzed the PPI network to identify the hub genes that have high interconnectivity with other genes. The significantly enriched pathways are reported.

By performing the comparative analysis, we identified 463 common DEG’s among the viral infection datasets under study. The highly interconnected PPI network constructed from these genes contained 3396 edges with an average node degree of 14.7 and an average local clustering coefficient of 0.406. There were 51 nodes with degree>50. The highest interconnected node, STAT1 had degree 113.

STAT 1 gene is identified as the most significant hub gene related to the immune response in all four viral infections, including SARS, H1N1, Influenza, and Rhinovirus. Its trivial role is already known in different viral infections, but being most significant in the four viruses together is a novel finding. It is thus identified as a central gene that is a potential therapeutic drug and vaccine target for viral infections.

This review delves into the intricate relationship between obesity and COVID-19 severity, uncovering mechanistic insights such as immunological dysregulation, inflammation, and metabolic complexities. It addresses challenges in diagnosis and treatment, advocating for tailored approaches. Emphasis is placed on proper management and customized dietary interventions to mitigate severity.

Scientific data related to obesity and COVID-19 was obtained from data bases like PubMed, Scopus, google, and google scholar. The search words employed for the data search were “Mechanisms linking obesity and COVID-19”, “Inflammatory milieu,” “Immune dysregulation”, “Impact of obesity on COVID-19 Severity”, and “Dual relationship between obesity and COVID-19”. Only relevant data related to the intricate relationship between obesity and COVID-19 severity and its management was included.

This paper explores the multifaceted mechanisms linking obesity to increased COVID-19 severity, including immunological dysregulation, inflammatory responses, and metabolic comorbidities. This review highlights complex problems that arise in the diagnosis and treatment of obese people with COVID-19. These problems range from precise diagnosis to individualized treatment plans. Management approaches for obese individuals with COVID-19 encompass lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, and dietary considerations, each tailored to mitigate risks and improve outcomes. Additionally, treatment plans integrating multidisciplinary care, including personalized respiratory support, antiviral therapy, and thromboprophylaxis, are proposed to address the unique needs of obese patients battling COVID-19.

The abstract underscores the complexity of this interaction, emphasizing the need for comprehensive information to guide clinical care and future research effectively.

Nowadays, one of the best ways to manage COVID-19 is to understand the characteristics of patients and the risk factors associated with the disease.

This study aimed to investigate and compare the characteristics, symptoms, and prognosis of inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19 in Poledokhtar city.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 288 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR tests at COVID-19 screening centers and Imam Khomeini Hospital in Poledakhtar city were selected using the census method. They were divided into inpatient and outpatient groups. Data from patient files were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software.

The study revealed significant differences in age, comorbidities, prior infection, and aspirin use between the inpatient and outpatient groups. Cough was the most common symptom among all patients, with weakness and fatigue being more common in inpatients and cough being more prevalent in outpatients. The overall mortality rate was 5.2%, with inpatients having a worse prognosis compared to outpatients.

In the present study, inpatients were found to be older, have more underlying health conditions, fewer prior infections, and experience a poorer prognosis than outpatients. Given that patients may be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms upon admission, evaluating other patient factors is crucial in assessing disease severity.

Timely diagnosis and examination of clinical findings of children with COVID-19 are important for treatment and control.

The purpose of this research is to determine the clinical and laboratory findings of children with COVID-19.

A total of 850 children with a suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 in 2021 were considered according to the HIS. Based on PCR, a total of 52 children were confirmed positive for COVID-19. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 23.0, the ANOVA, and the t-test (p < 0.05).

Fever (73.10%) was the most common symptom. Difficult breathing (23.10%), shortness of breath (13.50%), required mechanical ventilation (11.50%), deaths (11.50%), genetic disorders (7.70%), diabetes (7.70%), WBC in admiration (7.0; 5.25, 10.05), lymphocytes (47.0; 29.00, 66.50), neutrophil (50.00; 29.00, 66.50), saturation O2 (87.37±13.58) and RR (37.41±14.04) were significantly correlated with the ICU admission (p < 0.05).

Differences between the rate of comorbidities, and clinical and paraclinical features, were significant between ICU and non-ICU patients. Examining underlying diseases in children is very important according to their clinical manifestations. Also, clinical and laboratory characteristics of disorders should be done immediately for children's early treatment.

This work aimed to study the difference in the level of fatigue perception between cases and controls, who did not have COVID-19. This study sought to establish the impact of severity of infection with fatigue scores on the quality of life.

This observational case-control study, recruiting 165 participants, both males and females, from Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan, started from August 2022 to October 2023 after obtaining their consent. A total of 65 COVID-positive with 21.5% hospitalized and 78.5% non-hospitalized subjects were included. Post-COVID fatigue among the participants was compared using the validated Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11), and WHOQOL scale.

Participants in all groups reported fatigue on the Fatigue Severity Scale with COVID-positive (38.25 ±12.15) and Covid-negative (33.75±11.28) rate, with a significant p-value (0.031). According to CFQ, no significant difference (p = 0.91) was found between fatigue scores of Covid positive and negative. However, a significant (p = 0. 016) difference was observed between Covid-positive hospitalized (4.37±0.33) and non-hospitalized (1.98 ±0.22) subjects. QOL scores in different domains, including QOL General Health (7.18±1.54), physical (20.38±3.51), psychological (46.33±7.05), and social (9.98±1.94), were all significant (p = 0.00) when compared between Covid positives and negatives.

The study revealed that post-covid survivors experienced fatigue, which imposed limitations on different aspects of life, which was different from the fatigue of non-affected individuals.