SARS-CoV-2 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Pathogen Pincer Attack

A computational overview of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) against emerging and evolving drug-resistant HIV-1 integrase mutants

AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is one of the chronic and potentially life-threatening epidemics across the world. Hitherto, the non-existence of definitive drugs that could completely cure the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) implies an urgent necessity for the discovery of novel anti-HIV agents. Since integration is the most crucial stage in retroviral replication, hindering it can inhibit overall viral transmission. The 5 FDA-approved integrase inhibitors were computationally investigated, especially owing to the rising multiple mutations against their susceptibility. This comparative study will open new possibilities to guide the rational design of novel lead compounds for antiretroviral therapies (ARTs), more specifically the structure-based design of novel Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) that may possess a better resistance profile than present drugs. Further, we have discussed potent anti-HIV natural compounds and their interactions as an alternative approach, recommending the urgent need to tap into the rich vein of indigenous knowledge for reverse pharmacology. Moreover, herein, we discuss existing evidence that might change in the near future.

Stability analysis of within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model

The world has been suffering from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since late 2019. COVID-19 is caused by a virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in many patients around the world. This has raised the alarm for the importance of understanding the dynamics of coinfection and its impact on the lives of patients. As in other pandemics, mathematical modeling is one of the important tools that can help medical and experimental studies of COVID-19. In this paper, we develop a within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model. The model consists of six ordinary differential equations. It depicts the interactions between uninfected epithelial cells, infected epithelial cells, free SARS-CoV-2 particles, uninfected CD4+ T cells, infected CD4+ T cells, and free HIV particles. We confirm that the solutions of the developed model are biologically acceptable by proving their nonnegativity and boundedness. We compute all possible steady states and derive their positivity conditions. We choose suitable Lyapunov functions to prove the global asymptotic stability of all steady states. We run some numerical simulations to enhance the global stability results. Based on our model, weak CD4+ T cell immune response or low CD4+ T cell counts in SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfected patient increase the concentrations of infected epithelial cells and SARS-CoV-2 viral load. This causes the coinfected patient to suffer from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. This result agrees with many studies which showed that HIV patients are at greater risk of suffering from severe COVID-19 when infected. More studies are needed to understand the nature of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection and the role of different immune responses during infection.

Global analysis of within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model with latency

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this paper, we analyze a within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model. The model is made up of eight ordinary differential equations. These equations describe the interactions between healthy epithelial cells, latently infected epithelial cells, productively infected epithelial cells, SARS-CoV-2 particles, healthy CD 4 + T cells, latently infected CD 4 + T cells, productively infected CD 4 + T cells, and HIV particles. We confirm that the solutions of the developed model are bounded and nonnegative. We calculate the different steady states of the model and derive their existence conditions. We choose appropriate Lyapunov functions to show the global stability of all steady states. We execute some numerical simulations to assist the theoretical contributions. Based on our results, weak CD 4 + T cell immunity in SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfected patients causes an increase in the concentrations of productively infected epithelial cells and SARS-CoV-2 particles. This may lead to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. This result agrees with many studies that discussed the high risk of severe infection and death in HIV patients when they get SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the other hand, increasing the death rate of infected epithelial cells during the latency period can reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. More studies are needed to understand the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection and find better ways to treat this vulnerable group of patients.

Features of Pathobiology and Clinical Translation of Approved Treatments for Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently the most important etiological agent of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with millions of infections and deaths in the last 2 years worldwide. Several reasons and parameters are responsible for the difficult management of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients; the first is virus behavioral factors such as high transmission rate, and the different molecular and cellular mechanisms of pathogenesis remain a matter of controversy, which is another factor.

Summary

In the present review, we attempted to explain about features of SARS-COV-2, particularly focusing on the various aspects of pathogenesis and treatment strategies.

Key Messages

We note evidence for the understanding of the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, which can help design the appropriate drug or vaccine. Additionally, and importantly, we reported the updated issues associated with the history and development of treatment strategies such as, drugs, vaccines, and other medications that have been approved or under consideration in clinics and markets worldwide.