Currently, news headlines from around the world are filled with reports of the coronavirus epidemic, initially erupting in the People’s Republic of China and now spreading to other, especially neighboring, countries. The total number of individuals infected with the 2019-nCoV coronavirus has crossed a million, with tens of thousands of fatalities [1, 2].
Bloomberg agency has compiled lists of virus-related fatalities, specifying symptoms, gender, and age as of January 23, 2020 [3]. Lethal outcomes are predominantly observed in elderly men over 60 years old. The most common symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Disease progression can lead to progressive respiratory failure due to alveolar damage and even death. Clinicians have identified the disease as virus-induced pneumonia based on clinical symptoms and other criteria, including elevated body temperature, decreased lymphocytes and leukocytes, new lung infiltrates on chest X-rays, and a lack of apparent improvement with antibiotic treatment for three days.
The virus is spreading rapidly worldwide. As of January 28, 2020, confirmed infection cases by country [2] (an continually updated interactive map with new infection and death cases is available at the link, but may experience interruptions due to high traffic): Mainland China – 4,409, Hong Kong – 8, Thailand – 8, Macao – 6, Australia – 5, Taiwan – 5, USA – 5, Japan – 4, Malaysia – 4, Singapore – 5, South Korea – 4, France – 3, Germany – 1, Vietnam – 2, Cambodia – 1, Canada – 1, Nepal – 1, Sri Lanka – 1. Russia has not yet reported any confirmed cases. The rate of infected individuals in mainland China is following an exponential growth trend. Quarantine measures are being implemented in China, with restrictions on travel to some affected areas, essentially isolating millions of people [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Thursday that the outbreak has not yet become a global emergency but that WHO is closely monitoring the situation.
The infectious agent is the 2019-nCoV virus (Wuhan coronavirus, Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus), a new strain of coronavirus discovered in December 2019 during the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China [4]. 2019-nCoV can be transmitted from person to person. It is still unclear how easily this happens, but human coronaviruses typically spread through the air via coughing and sneezing. The incubation period can be up to 14 days, during which transmission between humans is also possible. By mid-January, the genome of the 2019-nCoV virus had already been decoded and added to the database [5]. 2019-nCoV is a single-stranded RNA virus with a genome sequence of 29,903 nucleotides. Due to reports that initial cases had epidemiological links to a large seafood and animal market, it is believed that the virus has a zoonotic origin, although this has not been confirmed. Comparisons of genetic sequences between this virus and other existing virus samples showed a 79.5% similarity with SARS-CoV and 96% with a bat coronavirus (BatCoV RaTG13, previously found in the Asian horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus affinis) [6], suggesting a probable origin from bats. The name SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus) stands for “coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome.” It has already been established that the new 2019-nCoV virus uses the same cell entry receptor, ACE2, as SARS-CoV [6].
In general, coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, CoVs cause respiratory infections that are typically mild but can be fatal in rare cases. In cattle and pigs, they can cause diarrhea, while in chickens, they can lead to upper respiratory tract disease. As of now, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs approved for the prevention or treatment of diseases caused by CoVs. By classification, coronaviruses are viruses of the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae, order Nidovirales. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-polarity single-stranded RNA genome ((+)ssRNA) and a nucleocapsid with helical symmetry. The size of the CoV genome is approximately 26 to 32 kilobases, making it the largest among RNA viruses.
There is a growing interest in peptide-based drugs and their mimetics as potential antagonists against various pathogens. Peptide research is a crucial aspect of pharmaceutical investigations, with approximately 140 peptide-based drugs currently in clinical trials.
The reasons for using peptides in drug development are manifold. They can inhibit protein-protein interactions, serve as alternative therapies for challenging diseases, have advanced methods for extending peptide half-life, and can have a quicker time to market compared to chemical drugs. Peptide-based medications often exhibit minimal side effects and good tolerability compared to chemical drugs. However, they require special storage conditions, as the protein function may become inactive, leading to low oral bioavailability and susceptibility to rapid metabolism.
Many peptide inhibitors have shown activity against viruses and other pathogens. For example, the peptide RVFV-6, derived from the stem region of the glycoprotein Gc of Rift Valley Fever virus, prevents virus fusion during Rift Valley fever. It also exhibits activity against unrelated viruses such as EBOV and VSV. A derivative of scorpion toxin peptide Kn2-7 was identified as a potential agent against HIV-1 with low cytotoxic effects.
The lack of effective treatments has led to the development of additional therapeutic agents with improved efficacy to overcome side effects associated with current MERS treatment. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in peptide therapy due to numerous side effects associated with chemical drugs.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are excellent candidates for new therapeutic agents because they have shown antiviral activity. AMPs are components of the first line of defense in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. These small, positively charged peptides exhibit selective toxicity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. Their selective toxicity is due to the negatively charged bacterial membrane compared to the positive charge of AMPs. Antiviral AMPs act through various mechanisms, including blocking virus entry through interaction with heparan sulfate, inhibiting virus entry through fusion with specific cell receptors, and preventing virus fusion through interaction with viral glycoproteins, membrane, and envelope.
There is an urgent need for the development of more effective therapies against coronaviruses such as MERS, 2019-nCoV, and potentially new, unknown, and dangerous agents. The development of protocols for use in randomized controlled trials is also essential. Research has shown that peptides have become highly effective agents in signal transmission during viral diseases. Antimicrobial peptides are expected to be a successful therapeutic option for the new MERS pathogen. Computational biology combined with virology can expedite the advanced development of peptide therapy against MERS-CoV. Additionally, repurposing existing clinically approved antiviral peptide drugs may be a promising direction for developing new agents against MERS-CoV and similar coronaviruses.
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Pepts reVision is the ultimate solution for individuals seeking to improve their eyesight and enhance overall eye health.
Pepts reVision is the ultimate solution for individuals seeking to improve their eyesight and enhance overall eye health.
Pepts reVision is the ultimate solution for individuals seeking to improve their eyesight and enhance overall eye health.
Pepts reVision is the ultimate solution for individuals seeking to improve their eyesight and enhance overall eye health.
Pepts reVision is the ultimate solution for individuals seeking to improve their eyesight and enhance overall eye health.
