With the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities between the infection rate and death rate in different countries become a major concern. In some countries, lower mortality rate compared to others can be explained by better te...With the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities between the infection rate and death rate in different countries become a major concern. In some countries, lower mortality rate compared to others can be explained by better testing capacity and intensive care facilities. Complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from different countries of the world are continually submitted to Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data using Next Generation Sequencing method. A SARS-CoV-2 variant with a D 614G Mutation in the spike (S) protein has become the most dominant form in the global pandemic. There are a number of ongoing studies trying to relate this mutation with the infectivity, mortality, transmissibility of the virus and its impact on vaccine development. This review aims to accumulate the major findings from some of these studies and focus its future implication. Some studies suggested D 614G strain has increased binding capacity, it affects more cells at a faster rate, so has a high transmissibility. Patients infected with this strain were found with high viral load. But still now there is no such evidence that this strain produces more severe disease as well as increased mortality. The structural change of spike protein produced by D 614G mutation was minor and did not hamper the vaccine efficacy. Some studies showed antibodies produced against D614 strain can neutralize G614 strain and <em>vice versa</em>. Whenever a mutation occurs in spike protein there are always chances of affecting the infectivity, transmissibility, vaccine efficacy. Therefore, more studies are required to find out the overall effect of D 614G mutation.展开更多
Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the management of COVID-19 patients and control of the spread of the virus. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had only one...Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the management of COVID-19 patients and control of the spread of the virus. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had only one government molecular laboratory where real-time RT-PCR would be performed to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection. With the increasing number of suspected cases requiring confirmation diagnostic testing, there is a requirement to expand capacity for large-scale testing quickly. The government of Bangladesh established over 100 molecular laboratories within one year to test COVID-19. To expand the testing capacity, the government was compelled to recruit laboratory staff with limited experience and technical expertise, especially in molecular assays, to process specimens, interpret results, troubleshoot. As a result, the risk of diagnostic errors, such as cross-contamination, increased, potentially undermining the efficacy of public health policies, public health response, surveillance programs, and restrictive measures aimed toward containing the outbreak. In this piece, we discuss the different sources of cross-contamination in the COVID-19 RT-PCR laboratories and proffer practical preventive measures to avoid them.展开更多
<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">For just about 30 years, researchers have considered the likelihood to utilize </span><span style="font...<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">For just about 30 years, researchers have considered the likelihood to utilize </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nucleic acids as antiviral therapeutics. In principle, small single-stranded</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> nuc</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">leotide sequence (oligonucleotide) could hybridize to a particular gene or</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> mes</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">senger RNA and diminish transcription or translation, respectively, in this</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> manner decreasing the amount of protein that is synthesized. Until now, an incredible number of antisense oligonucleotides, double-stranded oligonucleotides, aptamers, ribozymes, deoxyribozymes, interfering RNAs, chimeric RNA</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">DNA molecules, antibody genes has been created artificially and ap</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">plied effectively for comprehension and manipulating biological processe</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s and in clinical preliminaries to treat a variety of diseases. Their versatility and potency make them similarly fit candidates for fighting viral infections. However, troubles with their efficiency, off-target effects, toxicity, delivery, and stability halted the development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics that can be utilized in the clinic. The potential for nucleic acid therapeutic agents is significant and is quite recently beginning to be realized. In this review, we have summarized some of the recent advancements made in the area of nucleic acid based therapeutics and focused on the methods of their delivery and associated challenges.展开更多
文摘With the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities between the infection rate and death rate in different countries become a major concern. In some countries, lower mortality rate compared to others can be explained by better testing capacity and intensive care facilities. Complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from different countries of the world are continually submitted to Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data using Next Generation Sequencing method. A SARS-CoV-2 variant with a D 614G Mutation in the spike (S) protein has become the most dominant form in the global pandemic. There are a number of ongoing studies trying to relate this mutation with the infectivity, mortality, transmissibility of the virus and its impact on vaccine development. This review aims to accumulate the major findings from some of these studies and focus its future implication. Some studies suggested D 614G strain has increased binding capacity, it affects more cells at a faster rate, so has a high transmissibility. Patients infected with this strain were found with high viral load. But still now there is no such evidence that this strain produces more severe disease as well as increased mortality. The structural change of spike protein produced by D 614G mutation was minor and did not hamper the vaccine efficacy. Some studies showed antibodies produced against D614 strain can neutralize G614 strain and <em>vice versa</em>. Whenever a mutation occurs in spike protein there are always chances of affecting the infectivity, transmissibility, vaccine efficacy. Therefore, more studies are required to find out the overall effect of D 614G mutation.
文摘Rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the management of COVID-19 patients and control of the spread of the virus. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh had only one government molecular laboratory where real-time RT-PCR would be performed to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection. With the increasing number of suspected cases requiring confirmation diagnostic testing, there is a requirement to expand capacity for large-scale testing quickly. The government of Bangladesh established over 100 molecular laboratories within one year to test COVID-19. To expand the testing capacity, the government was compelled to recruit laboratory staff with limited experience and technical expertise, especially in molecular assays, to process specimens, interpret results, troubleshoot. As a result, the risk of diagnostic errors, such as cross-contamination, increased, potentially undermining the efficacy of public health policies, public health response, surveillance programs, and restrictive measures aimed toward containing the outbreak. In this piece, we discuss the different sources of cross-contamination in the COVID-19 RT-PCR laboratories and proffer practical preventive measures to avoid them.
文摘<span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">For just about 30 years, researchers have considered the likelihood to utilize </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">nucleic acids as antiviral therapeutics. In principle, small single-stranded</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> nuc</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">leotide sequence (oligonucleotide) could hybridize to a particular gene or</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> mes</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">senger RNA and diminish transcription or translation, respectively, in this</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> manner decreasing the amount of protein that is synthesized. Until now, an incredible number of antisense oligonucleotides, double-stranded oligonucleotides, aptamers, ribozymes, deoxyribozymes, interfering RNAs, chimeric RNA</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">DNA molecules, antibody genes has been created artificially and ap</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">plied effectively for comprehension and manipulating biological processe</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s and in clinical preliminaries to treat a variety of diseases. Their versatility and potency make them similarly fit candidates for fighting viral infections. However, troubles with their efficiency, off-target effects, toxicity, delivery, and stability halted the development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics that can be utilized in the clinic. The potential for nucleic acid therapeutic agents is significant and is quite recently beginning to be realized. In this review, we have summarized some of the recent advancements made in the area of nucleic acid based therapeutics and focused on the methods of their delivery and associated challenges.
