Hunting common cold viruses by some new methods

Pathogenesis and Management of COVID-19

COVID-19, occurring due to SARS-COV-2 infection, is the most recent pandemic disease that has led to three million deaths at the time of writing. A great deal of effort has been directed towards altering the virus trajectory and/or managing the interactions of the virus with its subsequent targets in the human body; these interactions can lead to a chain reaction-like state manifested by a cytokine storm and progress to multiple organ failure. During cytokine storms the ratio of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory mediators is generally increased, which contributes to the instigation of hyper-inflammation and confers advantages to the virus. Because cytokine expression patterns fluctuate from one person to another and even within the same person from one time to another, we suggest a road map of COVID-19 management using an individual approach instead of focusing on the blockbuster process (one treatment for most people, if not all). Here, we highlight the biology of the virus, study the interaction between the virus and humans, and present potential pharmacological and non-pharmacological modulators that might contribute to the global war against SARS-COV-2. We suggest an algorithmic roadmap to manage COVID-19.

Detection of coronavirus strain 692 by immune electron microscopy

Utilization of the technique of immune electron microscopy has enabled the detection of a coronavirus in organ culture harvests derived from a washing from an adult with an acute upper respiratory tract illness; convalescent serum was the source of specific antibody.

Comparison between conventional systems and a newer system of combined cultures for isolation of influenza viruses

The sensitivity of conventional systems was compared with the sensitivity of the newer system of combined cultures for the isolation of influenza viruses. Both systems were comparable. It was found, that certain isolates were obtained only by conventional systems, and conversly, others by combined cultures only. These results showed that the joint usage of both the conventional and newer systems resulted in a significantly higher isolation rate.

Greater frequency of viral respiratory infections in asthmatic children as compared with their nonasthmatic siblings

A longitudinal clincal and microbiologic surveillance was conducted from October to May, 1971-72, on 16 children with infectious asthma and 15 of their nonasthmatic siblings. Asthmatic children experienced a significantly greater frequency of viral respiratory infections than did nonasthmatic ones (5.1 vs. 3.8 per subject). This increased incidence appeared to be largely the result of a greater number of rhinovirus infections. While respiratory infections of identical etiology that occurred concurrently in an asthmatic and his sibling were equivalent in severity, illnesses were longer (but not significantly so) in asthmatic children.

Simplified organ cultures of human embryo trachea in the diagnosis of viral respiratory disease of children

Organ cultures of human embryonic trachea in test tubes were used as an adjunct to tissue cultures in the isolation of respiratory viruses from children in hospital. Fifty-one viruses were obtained from 127 specimens, giving an isolation rate of 40%. Fifteen viruses were isolated from the original tissue cultures and also after passage through organ culture. Thirty viruses were isolated from the original tissue culture only, and six viruses only from organ culture (three para-influenza, one influenza A, and one rhinovirus). An increase of 5% in virus isolation rate over that of standard tissue culture was obtained.