SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management
Coronaviruses are large, enveloped viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome, infecting both humans and a wide range of wild and domestic animals. SARS-CoV-2, the agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has 80% sequence homology with SARS-CoV-1 and 96–98% homology with coronaviruses isolated from bats. The...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/10/1468 |
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| author | Grigore Mihaescu Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc Ciprian Iliescu Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu Lia-Mara Ditu Luminita Gabriela Marutescu Raluca Grigore Șerban Berteșteanu Marian Constantin Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru |
| author_facet | Grigore Mihaescu Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc Ciprian Iliescu Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu Lia-Mara Ditu Luminita Gabriela Marutescu Raluca Grigore Șerban Berteșteanu Marian Constantin Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru |
| author_sort | Grigore Mihaescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coronaviruses are large, enveloped viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome, infecting both humans and a wide range of wild and domestic animals. SARS-CoV-2, the agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has 80% sequence homology with SARS-CoV-1 and 96–98% homology with coronaviruses isolated from bats. The spread of infection is favored by prolonged exposure to high densities of aerosols indoors. Current studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is much more stable than other coronaviruses and viral respiratory pathogens. The severe forms of infection are associated with several risk factors, including advanced age, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and other preexisting infectious diseases, all having in common the pre-existence of a pro-inflammatory condition. Consequently, it is essential to understand the relationship between the inflammatory process and the specific immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we present a general characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (origin, sensitivity to chemical and physical factors, multiplication cycle, genetic variability), the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 pathology, the host immune response and discuss how the inflammatory conditions associated with different diseases could increase the risk of COVID-19. Last, but not least, we briefly review the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, pharmacology, and future approaches toward vaccine development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:04:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57836be726b34be980207a67c05bbb2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:04:38Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-57836be726b34be980207a67c05bbb2c2023-11-20T14:59:02ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-09-01810146810.3390/microorganisms8101468SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic ManagementGrigore Mihaescu0Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc1Ciprian Iliescu2Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu3Lia-Mara Ditu4Luminita Gabriela Marutescu5Raluca Grigore6Șerban Berteșteanu7Marian Constantin8Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru9Microbiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaMicrobiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies—IMT, 077190 Bucharest, RomaniaMicrobiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaMicrobiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaMicrobiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila and Coltea Clinical Hospital, 020022 Bucharest, RomaniaENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila and Coltea Clinical Hospital, 020022 Bucharest, RomaniaInstitute of Biology, 060031 Bucharest, RomaniaMicrobiology Immunology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, RomaniaCoronaviruses are large, enveloped viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome, infecting both humans and a wide range of wild and domestic animals. SARS-CoV-2, the agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has 80% sequence homology with SARS-CoV-1 and 96–98% homology with coronaviruses isolated from bats. The spread of infection is favored by prolonged exposure to high densities of aerosols indoors. Current studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is much more stable than other coronaviruses and viral respiratory pathogens. The severe forms of infection are associated with several risk factors, including advanced age, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and other preexisting infectious diseases, all having in common the pre-existence of a pro-inflammatory condition. Consequently, it is essential to understand the relationship between the inflammatory process and the specific immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we present a general characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (origin, sensitivity to chemical and physical factors, multiplication cycle, genetic variability), the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 pathology, the host immune response and discuss how the inflammatory conditions associated with different diseases could increase the risk of COVID-19. Last, but not least, we briefly review the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, pharmacology, and future approaches toward vaccine development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/10/1468SARS-CoV-2COVID-19immune responseinflammation |
| spellingShingle | Grigore Mihaescu Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc Ciprian Iliescu Corneliu Ovidiu Vrancianu Lia-Mara Ditu Luminita Gabriela Marutescu Raluca Grigore Șerban Berteșteanu Marian Constantin Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management Microorganisms SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 immune response inflammation |
| title | SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2: From Structure to Pathology, Host Immune Response and Therapeutic Management |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 from structure to pathology host immune response and therapeutic management |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 immune response inflammation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/10/1468 |
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