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Literature review on virus and host response proteins in COVID-19: pathobiology, management, diagnosis and treatment
Insights
This review details the molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including viral entry via spike proteins and immune evasion. It covers diagnostics and emerging treatments like plasma therapy for COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a global pandemic with high mortality.
- SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped RNA virus that enters host cells via spike proteins.
- The virus replicates by evading host immune responses, leading to severe disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular insights of SARS-CoV-2.
- To elucidate the infection mechanism via host-viral protein interactions.
- To summarize current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of research databases up to May 16, 2020.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication.
- Compilation of data on host-viral protein interactions.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 utilizes spike proteins for host cell entry.
- Viral replication involves evasion of innate and adaptive immunity.
- RT-qPCR and serological tests are primary diagnostic methods.
Conclusions:
- Understanding molecular interactions is crucial for combating SARS-CoV-2.
- Plasma therapy and remdesivir show promise in treating COVID-19.
- Further research into host-viral interactions may yield effective treatments.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by a novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which was declared by WHO as a cause of global pandemic. By human-to-human transmission it caused severe damage to mankind with increased mortality rate worldwide. Coronavirus is a spherical enveloped virus with single stranded positive-sense RNA with a size of ~30 kilobases encoding various structural, non-structural and accessory proteins. The entry of coronavirus into the host cells is mediated by spike proteins. SARS-CoV-2 efficiently replicates in host cell and by evading immune surveillance, like innate and adaptive immune responses, in the host cells ultimately leads to increased virulence and disease outcome. In the current review, we highlighted the molecular insights of SARS-CoV-2 and its infection mechanism in the host cell via host-viral protein interactions based on currently available data up to 16thMay 2020 using various research literature databases. The diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 is mainly done by RT-qPCR and serological tests. There is no effective treatment for COVID-19, however, few methods like plasma therapy and remdesivir treatment are reported to show promising results in improving patient's health and decreasing mortality rate. Keywords: SARS-CoV; spike protein; nucleocapsid; COVID-19; interferon.
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