Broad-spectrum antivirals are desirable, particularly in the context of emerging zoonotic infections for which specific interventions do not yet exist. Sheahan et al. tested the potential of a ribonucleoside analog previously shown to be active against other RNA viruses such as influenza and Ebola virus to combat coronaviruses. This drug was effective in cell lines and primary human airway epithelial cultures against multiple coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Mouse models of SARS and MERS demonstrated that early treatment reduced viral replication and damage to the lungs. Mechanistically, this drug is incorporated into the viral RNA, inducing mutations and eventually leading to error catastrophe in the virus. In this manner, inducing catastrophe could help avoid catastrophe by stemming the next pandemic.
The emergence of the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China has caused a worldwide epidemic of respiratory disease (COVID-19). Vaccines and targeted therapeutics for treatment of this disease are currently lacking. Here we report a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 (and SARS-CoV) in cell culture. This cross-neutralizing antibody targets a communal epitope on these viruses and may offer potential for prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16256-y
On 29 April, Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), announced that a clinical trial in more than 1,000 people had showed that those taking remdesivir recovered in 11 days on average, compared with 15 days for those on a placebo. There were also fewer deaths among trial participants who received the drug, he said, but that trend was not statistically significant. The shortened recovery time, however, was significant.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01295-8
Explains the emergence and spread of mutations in coronaviruses, and how this leads to disease, in a simple and clear manner
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/30/science/coronavirus-mutations.html
Explains the emergence and spread of mutations in Coronaviruses, and how this leads to disease, in a simple and clear manner
How to deal with different aspects of COVID-19 infection, detailed in different languages. Useful practical resource
https://www.noorahealthcovid19.org/
How to deal with different aspects of COVID-19 infection, detailed in different languages. Useful practical resource
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01221-y
This resource is a compendium of the relevant literature on COVID- 19 https://publons.com/publon/covid-19/?order_by=date
This resource is a compendium of the relevant literature on COVID- 19 https://publons.com/publon/covid-19/?order_by=date
For all of us who love numbers. Very informative article and FAQs from Weizmann and Caltech groups.
Click on title for more or go to https://bit.ly/2WOeN64
A research paper discussing the possibility of airborne transmission of SARS-Cov2.