Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 27, 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
Understanding the immunological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 pandemic: A therapeutic approach
Ananya Das1, Sraddhya Roy1, Snehasikta Swarnakar2
1Department of Receptor Biology and Tumor Metastasis, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India.
Abstract:
In December 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel variant of coronavirus has emerged from Wuhan in China and has created havoc impulses across the world with a larger number of fatalities. At the same time, studies are on roll to discover potent vaccine against it or repurposing of approved drugs which are widely adopted are under trial to eradicate the SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 pandemic. Reports have also shown that there are asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 disease who can transmit the disease to others too. However, the first line defense of the viral attack is body's strong and well-coordinated immune response producing excessive inflammatory innate reaction, thus impaired adaptive host immune defense which lead to death upon the malfunctioning. Considerable works are going on to establish the relation between immune parameters and viral replication that, might alter both the innate and adaptive immune system of COVID-19 patient by up riding a massive cytokines and chemokines secretion. This review mainly gives an account on how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with our immune system and how does our immune system responds to it, along with that drugs which are being used or can be used in fighting COVID-19 disease. The curative therapies as treatment for it have also been addressed in the perspective of adaptive immunity of the patients.
Insights
This review explores how SARS-CoV-2 impacts the immune system, leading to severe COVID-19. It also discusses potential treatments and drugs for this global pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019, causing the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The virus has led to significant global fatalities and highlighted the role of asymptomatic carriers.
- Understanding the immune response is crucial for combating the disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human immune system.
- To examine how the immune system responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To discuss current and potential therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on SARS-CoV-2 and immune responses.
- Analysis of research on viral replication and immune parameter alterations.
- Compilation of information on drug repurposing and vaccine development.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 triggers an excessive inflammatory innate immune response, potentially impairing adaptive immunity.
- Massive cytokine and chemokine secretion is associated with altered immune system function in COVID-19 patients.
- Asymptomatic carriers can transmit the virus, complicating disease control.
Conclusions:
- The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system is complex, involving both innate and adaptive responses.
- Therapeutic strategies must consider the modulation of immune responses for effective COVID-19 treatment.
- Further research into immune parameters and viral replication is vital for developing effective countermeasures.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
02:50Conjugated Proteins
Nucleoproteins are protein complexes that contain nucleic acids, categorized as deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNPs) or ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) respectively. The nucleosome is a typical example of a DNP where nuclear DNA is associated with histone proteins. The major antigen for the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV is an RNP that is critical...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...