Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
Nucleic acid-based therapy for coronavirus disease 2019
Ravikant Piyush1, Keshav Rajarshi2, Aroni Chatterjee3
1School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625021, India.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the pandemic that originated in China has already spread into more than 190 countries, resulting in huge loss of human life and many more are at the stake of losing it; if not intervened with the best therapeutics to contain the disease. For that aspect, various scientific groups are continuously involved in the development of an effective line of treatment to control the novel coronavirus from spreading rapidly. Worldwide scientists are evaluating various biomolecules and synthetic inhibitors against COVID-19; where the nucleic acid-based molecules may be considered as potential drug candidates. These molecules have been proved potentially effective against SARS-CoV, which shares high sequence similarity with SARS-CoV-2. Recent advancements in nucleic acid-based therapeutics are helpful in targeted drug delivery, safely and effectively. The use of nucleic acid-based molecules also known to regulate the level of gene expression inside the target cells. This review mainly focuses on various nucleic acid-based biologically active molecules and their therapeutic potentials in developing vaccines for SARS-CoV-2.
Insights
Nucleic acid-based molecules show promise as therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19. These advanced treatments offer targeted delivery and gene expression regulation against SARS-CoV-2.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global health crisis.
- Existing treatments are insufficient, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- SARS-CoV-2 shares similarities with SARS-CoV, suggesting potential cross-effectiveness of treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review nucleic acid-based molecules as potential therapeutic agents for COVID-19.
- To explore the application of these molecules in vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2.
- To highlight advancements in nucleic acid therapeutics for targeted drug delivery and gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific studies on nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
- Analysis of research on molecules effective against SARS-CoV and their relevance to SARS-CoV-2.
- Evaluation of recent advancements in nucleic acid drug delivery and gene expression modulation.
Main Results:
- Nucleic acid-based molecules demonstrate potential as drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2.
- These molecules have shown efficacy against SARS-CoV, a related virus.
- Advancements enable safe and effective targeted drug delivery and gene expression regulation.
Conclusions:
- Nucleic acid-based biologically active molecules are promising for COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development.
- Targeted delivery and gene regulation capabilities enhance their therapeutic potential.
- Further research into these molecules could lead to effective interventions against SARS-CoV-2.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
02:43Nucleic acids
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes,...
01:29Subviral Agents
01:23RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
01:28Introduction to Virus