Potential approaches to combat COVID-19: a mini-review

Area of Science:

• Virology and Immunology
• Infectious Disease Research
• Drug Discovery and Development

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 virus, originating in Wuhan, China, rapidly escalated into a global pandemic, causing widespread devastation.
• The urgent need to control the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred global research efforts focused on developing effective vaccines and antiviral therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize potential strategies for curbing the spread of COVID-19.
• To highlight various vaccine and therapeutic approaches currently under investigation.

Main Methods:

• The review encompasses a broad spectrum of potential interventions, including different vaccine platforms (viral vector-based, nucleic acid-based, protein-based, inactivated/weakened virus, plant-based, chimeric, subunit), novel technologies (Hyleukin-7), and antibody-based therapies (humanized nanobodies, monoclonal antibodies).
• It also covers therapeutic strategies such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion, inhibitors targeting viral and host factors (ACE-2, AT1R, complement system, proteases, endocytosis), shield immunity, and drug repurposing (antivirals, traditional Chinese medicine).

Main Results:

• Multiple vaccine and drug candidates are undergoing clinical trials.
• Several approaches have demonstrated positive preliminary results, indicating potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:

• A wide array of scientific strategies are being actively pursued to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The ongoing clinical evaluation of these diverse treatments offers hope for effective future interventions against SARS-CoV-2.