Combination of Biodata Mining and Computational Modelling in Identification and Characterization of ORF1ab Polyprotein of SARS-CoV-2 Isolated from Oronasopharynx of an Iranian Patient

An insight overview on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: Advantageous, pharmacology, mechanism of action, and prospective considerations

The worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has urged scientists to present some novel vaccine platforms during this pandemic to provide a rather prolonged immunity against this respiratory viral infection. In spite of many campaigns formed against the administration of mRNA-based vaccines, those platforms were the most novel types, which helped us meet the global demand by developing protection against COVID-19 and reducing the development of severe forms of this respiratory viral infection. Some societies are worry about the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine administration and the potential risk of genetic integration of inoculated mRNA into the human genome. Although the efficacy and long-term safety of mRNA vaccines have not yet been fully clarified, obviously their application has switched the mortality and morbidity of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes the structural features and technologies used in producing of COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccines as the most influential factor in controlling this pandemic and a successful pattern for planning to produce other kind of genetic vaccines against infections or cancers.

Management, control, and decision making in unexpected recurrent venous thromboembolism in COVID-19: a case report

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 was spread worldwide, as a pandemic, from December 2019. Venous thromboembolism events can inflict patients with coronavirus disease 2019 during the hospitalization or convalescent period. Therefore, monitoring of these patients, in terms of venous thromboembolism events signs and symptoms, and timely management of antithrombotic agents are of great importance.

CASE REPORT

A 45-year-old Iranian man, who is the first author of this case report, was infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and displayed the typical signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019. Although reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for coronavirus disease 2019, and specific immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, were negative at first, chest computed tomography scan showed the characteristic pattern of lung involvement of a coronavirus disease 2019 infection including bilateral and multilobar ground-glass opacities. At that time, there were no signs or symptoms of deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism, so these were not investigated. About 30 hours after hospital discharge, the patient presented back to the hospital with acute-onset chest pain. We instantly tested his blood for D-dimer, and sent him to take a Doppler sonography of his lower legs and a chest computed tomography angiography in search of pulmonary thromboembolism and deep-vein thrombosis. Although we could confirm pulmonary thromboembolism with computed tomography angiography in our patient, there were no signs or symptoms of venous thromboembolism in his lower legs, and color Doppler sonography of lower limbs was normal. So, the patient was treated with rivaroxaban as an antithrombotic agent. After some days, he was discharged in good condition. About 1 month later, he was referred to our hospital because of left lower limb edema. Although he was under antithrombotic therapy, color Doppler sonography of lower limbs revealed acute deep-vein thrombosis of the left leg. Hence, we decided to shift antithrombotic therapy from rivaroxaban to warfarin, as it is more potent than rivaroxaban in recurrent venous thromboembolism and when taking new oral anticoagulants. Unlike rivaroxaban, which needs no blood test to monitor its efficacy but has a warning for signs and symptoms of bleeding, warfarin therapy must be monitored carefully by regular blood tests for prothrombin time and international normalized ratio to maintain them in the therapeutic range. The patient was informed about the bleeding cautions, and required regular check of prothrombin time and international normalized ratio to maintain them in the proper and advised range of treatment (international normalized ratio therapeutic range 2-3).

CONCLUSION

In the case of unexpected recurrent venous thromboembolism in coronavirus disease 2019, especially when patients are taking rivaroxaban or other new oral anticoagulants, such drugs should be substituted by warfarin, with routine follow-up, to maintain the value of prothrombin time and international normalized ratio within the therapeutic range.

The BBIBP-CorV inactivated COVID-19 vaccine induces robust and persistent humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid, besides spike protein in healthy adults

Vaccination is one of the best ways to control the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Among the various SARS-CoV-2 vaccines approved for use, the BBIBP-CorV inactivated vaccine has been widely used in 93 countries. In order to understand deeply the protective mechanism of inactivated vaccine, which retains all antigenic components of live virus, the analysis of humoral responses triggered by multiple proteins is necessary. In this research, antibody responses were generated with 6 selected recombinant proteins and 68 overlapping peptides that completely covered SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein in 254 healthy volunteers vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV. As a result, antibody responses to the receptor binding domain (RBD), N, and non-structural protein 8 (NSP8) were induced following immunization by BBIBP-CorV. The antibody responses detected in donors after the 2nd dose vaccination can be maintained for about 6 months. Moreover, specific antibody levels can be restored after the boosting vaccination measured by ELISA. Furthermore, the level of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG response is independent of age and gender. Moreover, N391-408 was identified as a dominant peptide after vaccination of BBIBP-CorV through peptide screening. Understanding the overview of humoral reactivity of the vaccine will contribute to further research on the protective mechanism of the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine and provide potential biomarkers for the related application of inactivated vaccine.

Molecular docking of ethanol extracts of katuk leaf (Sauropus androgynus) on functional proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major health crisis globally. Alternative treatment approaches include using food sources rich in flavonoid compounds, such as the leaves of katuk plant (Sauropus androgynus). The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the flavonoid group present in active compounds of katuk leaves (Sauropus androgynus) and to study the mechanism underlying interactions (molecular docking) of these compounds with 3CLpro, Nsp1, Nsp3, RdRp, Nsp7_Nsp8 complex, and PLpro in SARS-CoV-2, and ACE2 in humans. In silico analysis was performed using Hex 8.0. software, which is primary tool of docking analysis. Interaction between the ligand and its receptors were analyzed using the software Discovery studio 4.1. The results of this study indicated that ABCD chains of 3CLpro had the highest bond energy with afzelin (-42.77 Kcal/mol), RdRp Nsp7_Nsp8 complex had the highest bond energy with trifolin (-310.87 Kcal/mol), PLpro had the highest bond energy with afzelin (-190.23 Kcal/mol), Nsp1 had the highest bond energy with afzelin (-286.89 Kcal/mol), Nsp3 had the highest bond energy with trifolin (-334.97 Kcal/mol), and ACE2 had the highest bond energy with trifolin (-307.96 Kcal/mol). Thus, on comparison with conventionally used drugs, the active flavonoid compounds in katuk leaves (Sauropus androgynus) showed specific affinity for 3CLpro, Nsp1, Nsp3, RdRp Nsp7_Nsp8 complex, and PLpro in SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 in humans. Thus, katuk leaves a potential herbal candidates to derive new drugs or complementary medicines for COVID-19.

In silico prediction of the animal susceptibility and virtual screening of natural compounds against SARS-CoV-2: Molecular dynamics simulation based analysis

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has six open reading frames (orf1ab, orf3a, orf6, orf7a, orf8, and orf10), a spike protein, a membrane protein, an envelope small membrane protein, and a nucleocapsid protein, out of which, orf1ab is the largest ORF coding different important non-structural proteins. In this study, an effort was made to evaluate the susceptibility of different animals against SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing the interactions of Spike and ACE2 proteins of the animals and propose a list of potential natural compounds binding to orf1ab of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we analyzed structural interactions between spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor of 16 different hosts. A simulation for 50 ns was performed on these complexes. Based on post-simulation analysis, Chelonia mydas was found to have a more stable complex, while Bubalus bubalis, Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos, Crocodylus porosus, and Loxodonta africana were found to have the least stable complexes with more fluctuations than all other organisms. Apart from that, we performed domain assignment of orf1ab of SARS-CoV-2 and identified 14 distinct domains. Out of these, Domain 3 (DNA/RNA polymerases) was selected as a target, as it showed no similarities with host proteomes and was validated in silico. Then, the top 10 molecules were selected from the virtual screening of ∼1.8 lakh molecules from the ZINC database, based on binding energy, and validated for ADME and toxicological properties. Three molecules were selected and analyzed further. The structural analysis showed that these molecules were residing within the pocket of the receptor. Finally, a simulation for 200 ns was performed on complexes with three selected molecules. Based on post-simulation analysis (RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and energies), the molecule ZINC000103666966 was found as the most suitable inhibitory compound against Domain 3. As this is an in silico prediction, further experimental studies could unravel the potential of the proposed molecule against SARS-CoV-2.

Implications of the Immune Polymorphisms of the Host and the Genetic Variability of SARS-CoV-2 in the Development of COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current pandemic affecting almost all countries in the world. SARS-CoV-2 is the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), which has claimed millions of lives around the world. In most patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection does not cause clinical signs. However, some infected people develop symptoms, which include loss of smell or taste, fever, dry cough, headache, severe pneumonia, as well as coagulation disorders. The aim of this work is to report genetic factors of SARS-CoV-2 and host-associated to severe COVID-19, placing special emphasis on the viral entry and molecules of the immune system involved with viral infection. Besides this, we analyze SARS-CoV-2 variants and their structural characteristics related to the binding to polymorphic angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2). Additionally, we also review other polymorphisms as well as some epigenetic factors involved in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. These factors and viral variability could explain the increment of infection rate and/or in the development of severe COVID-19.

Analysis and comparison of genetic variants and mutations of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

We present an analysis and comparison study of genetic variants and mutations of about 1200 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 virus sampled across the first seven months of 2020. The study includes 12 sets of about 100 genomes each collected between January and September. We analyzed the mutations, mutation frequency and count trends over time, and genomes trends over time from January through September. We show that certain mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome are not occurring randomly as it has been commonly believed. This finding is in agreement with other recently published research in this domain. Therefore, this validates other findings in this direction. This study includes approximately 1000 genomes and was able to identify over 35 different mutations most of which are common to almost all genomes groups. Some mutations' ratios (frequency percentage) fluctuate over time to adapt the virus to various environmental factors, climate, and populations. One of the interesting findings in this paper is that the coding region, at the nucleotide level for NSP13 protein is relatively conserved compared with other protein regions in the ORF1ab gene which makes this protein a good candidate for developing drug targets and treatment for the COVID-19 disease. Although this outcome was already reported by other researchers, we corroborated their result with our work in a different approach and another experimental setting with almost one thousand complete genome sequences. We presented and discussed all these results and findings with tables of results and illustrating figures.

Potential therapeutic agents to COVID-19: An update review on antiviral therapy, immunotherapy, and cell therapy

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2020 and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) was later announced as pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, several studies have been conducted on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 by potential vaccines and drugs. Although, the governments and global population have been attracted by some vaccine production projects, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antiviral drugs would be an urge necessity in parallel with the efficient preventive vaccines. Various nonspecific drugs produced previously against other bacterial, viral, and parasite infections were recently evaluated for treating patients with COVID-19. In addition to therapeutic properties of these anti-COVID-19 compounds, some adverse effects were observed in different human organs as well. Not only several attentions were paid to antiviral therapy and treatment of COVID-19, but also nanomedicine, immunotherapy, and cell therapy were conducted against this viral infection. In this review study, we planned to introduce the present and potential future treatment strategies against COVID-19 and define the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment strategy.

Immunopathological similarities between COVID-19 and influenza: Investigating the consequences of Co-infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a global public health emergency since December 2019, and so far, more than 980,000 people (until September 24, 2020) around the world have died. SARS-CoV-2 mimics the influenza virus regarding methods and modes of transmission, clinical features, related immune responses, and seasonal coincidence. Accordingly, co-infection by these viruses is imaginable because some studies have reported several cases with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection. Given the importance of the mentioned co-infection and the coming influenza season, it is essential to recognize the similarities and differences between the symptoms, immunopathogenesis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. Therefore, we reviewed the virology, clinical features, and immunopathogenesis of both influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated outcomes in cases with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection.

The challenge of privacy and security when using technology to track people in times of COVID-19 pandemic

Since the start of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) governments and health authorities across the world have find it very difficult in controlling infections. Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, blockchain and 5G have effectively improved the efficiency of efforts in epidemic monitoring, virus tracking, prevention, control and treatment. Surveillance to halt COVID-19 has raised privacy concerns, as many governments are willing to overlook privacy implications to save lives. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a focused Systematic Literature Review (SLR), to explore the potential benefits and implications of using digital technologies such as AI, big data and cloud to track COVID-19 amongst people in different societies. The aim is to highlight the risks of security and privacy to personal data when using technology to track COVID-19 in societies and identify ways to govern these risks. The paper uses the SLR approach to examine 40 articles published during 2020, ultimately down selecting to the most relevant 24 studies. In this SLR approach we adopted the following steps; formulated the problem, searched the literature, gathered information from studies, evaluated the quality of studies, analysed and integrated the outcomes of studies while concluding by interpreting the evidence and presenting the results. Papers were classified into different categories such as technology use, impact on society and governance. The study highlighted the challenge for government to balance the need of what is good for public health versus individual privacy and freedoms. The findings revealed that although the use of technology help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, government surveillance to halt has sparked privacy concerns. We suggest some requirements for government policy to be ethical and capable of commanding the trust of the public and present some research questions for future research.

Identification and characterization of a silent mutation in RNA binding domain of N protein coding gene from SARS-CoV-2

Objective

This study describes the occurrence of a silent mutation in the RNA binding domain of nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N protein) coding gene from SARS-CoV-2 that may consequence to a missense mutation by onset of another single nucleotide mutation.

Results

In the DNA sequence isolated from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) in Iran, a coding sequence for the RNA binding domain of N protein was detected. The comparison of Chinese and Iranian DNA sequences displayed that a thymine (T) was mutated to cytosine (C), so “TTG” from China was changed to “CTG” in Iran. Both DNA sequences from Iran and China have been encoded for leucine. In addition, the second T in “CTG” in the DNA or uracil (U) in “CUG” in the RNA sequences from Iran can be mutated to another C by a missense mutation resulting from thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) of human and base excision repair mechanism to produce “CCG” encoding for proline, which consequently may increase the affinity of the RNA binding domain of N protein to viral RNA and improve the transcription rate, pathogenicity, evasion from human immunity system, spreading in the human body, and risk of human-to-human transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2.

Immunopathology, host-virus genome interactions, and effective vaccine development in SARS-CoV-2

Coronaviruses are a group of enveloped RNA viruses that are diversely found in humans and now declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The population's susceptibility to these highly pathogenic coronaviruses has contributed to large outbreaks, evolved into public health events, and rapidly transmitted globally. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapies and vaccines against this disease. In the primary stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) infection, the signs and symptoms are nonspecific, and many more cases have been observed than initially expected. Genome sequencing is performed regularly to identify genetic changes to SARS-COV-2, and vaccine development is focused on manufacture, production, and based on specific problems, and very few are available on recent developments in the prevention of outbreaks. The aim of this review article to explore recent updates on SARS-COV-2 in the context of pathogenesis during disease progression, and innate acquired mechanisms of defense, This includes advances in diagnostics, susceptibility, and severity of host-virus genome interactions, modes of transmission, active compounds being used in pre-clinical and clinical trials for the treatment of patients, vaccine developments, and the effectiveness of SARS-COV-2 prevention and control measures. We have summarized the importance of pathophysiology immune response, Diagnostics, vaccine development currently approaches explored for SARS-COV-2.

Expansion of Single Cell Transcriptomics Data of SARS-CoV Infection in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells to COVID-19

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) that was emerged as a new member of coronaviruses since December 2019 in Wuhan, China and then after was spread in all continentals. Since SARS-CoV-2 has shown about 77.5% similarity to SARS-CoV, the transcriptome and immunological regulations of SARS-CoV-2 was expected to have high percentage of overlap with SARS-CoV.

Results

In this study, we applied the single cell transcriptomics data of human bronchial epithelial cells (2B4 cell line) infected with SARS-CoV, which was annotated in the Expression Atlas database to expand this data to COVID-19. In addition, we employed system biology methods including gene ontology (GO) and Reactome pathway analyses to define functional genes and pathways in the infected cells with SARS-CoV. The transcriptomics analysis on the Expression Atlas database revealed that most genes from infected 2B4 cell line with SARS-CoV were downregulated leading to immune system hyperactivation, induction of signaling pathways, and consequently a cytokine storm. In addition, GO:0016192 (vesicle-mediated transport), GO:0006886 (intracellular protein transport), and GO:0006888 (ER to Golgi vesicle-mediated transport) were shown as top three GOs in the ontology network of infected cells with SARS-CoV. Meanwhile, R-HAS-6807070 (phosphatase and tensin homolog or PTEN regulation) showed the highest association with other Reactome pathways in the network of infected cells with SARS-CoV. PTEN plays a critical role in the activation of dendritic cells, B- and T-cells, and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, which cooperates with downregulated genes in the promotion of cytokine storm in the COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions

Based on the high similarity percentage of the transcriptome of SARS-CoV with SARS-CoV-2, the data of immunological regulations, signaling pathways, and proinflammatory cytokines in SARS-CoV infection can be expanded to COVID-19 to have a valid platform for future pharmaceutical and vaccine studies.

Application of System Biology to Explore the Association of Neprilysin, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), and Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) in Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appears with common symptoms including fever, dry cough, and fatigue, as well as some less common sysmptoms such as loss of taste and smell, diarrhea, skin rashes and discoloration of fingers. COVID-19 patients may also suffer from serious symptoms including shortness of breathing, chest pressure and pain, as well as loss of daily routine habits, pointing out to a sever reduction in the quality of life. COVID-19 has afftected almost all countries, however, the United States contains the highest number of infection (> 1,595,000 cases) and deaths cases (> 95,000 deaths) in the world until May 21, 2020. Finding an influential treatment strategy against COVID-19 can be facilitated through better understanding of the virus pathogenesis and consequently interrupting the biochemical pathways that the virus may play role in human body as the current reservoir of the virus.

RESULTS

In this study, we combined system biology and bioinformatic approaches to define the role of coexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), neprilysin or membrane metallo-endopeptidase (MME), and carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and their association in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The results revealed that ACE2 as the cellular attachment site of SARS-CoV-2, neprilysin, and CAs have a great contribution together in the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and consequently in pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in the vital organs such as respiratory, renal, and blood circulation systems. Any disorder in neprilysin, ACE2, and CAs can lead to increase of CO2 concentration in blood and respiratory acidosis, induction of pulmonary edema and heart and renal failures.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the presence of ACE2-Neprilysin-CA complex in most of vital organs and as a receptor of COVID-19, it is expected that most organs are affected by SARS-CoV-2 such as inflammation and fibrosis of lungs, which may conversely affect their vital functions, temporary or permanently, sometimes leading to death. Therefore, ACE2-Neprilysin-CA complex could be the key factor of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and may provide us useful information to find better provocative and therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.