Results from the phase2 trial support the view that subcutaneous administration of IFN- β for treatment of COVID-19 enhances speed of recovery and reduces mortality.
The extraordinary situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic has warranted exploring different possible avenues for...
A combination of biological and computational approach to study protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between the viral and the host proteins in order to identify and repurpose drugs for an effective treatment of COVID-19 and possibly other infections as well
The usual...
To protect the NHS and save lives., National Lockdown has been put in place across the UK. People have been asked to stay home at home. This is in view of recent rapid increase in number of cases across...
A novel mechanism to explain the different unrelated symptoms of COVID-19 has come to light by exploiting the second fastest Supercomputer in the world known as Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. The study involved analysing 2.5...
Existing biologics such as Canakinumab (monoclonal antibody), Anakinra (monoclonal antibody) and Rilonacept (fusion protein) can be exploited as therapeutics that restrain inflammation in COVID-19 patients. In addition, designer monoclonal antibodies can provide passive immunity by neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus...
The plant derived agent, Thapsigargin (TG) has been used in traditional medicine for long time. TG has shown promises as a potential anti-cancer drug because of its biological property to inhibit the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pump which is necessary for...
Coronaviruses are RNA viruses belonging to coronaviridae family. These viruses display remarkably high rates of errors during replication due to lack of proofreading nuclease activity of their polymerases. In other organisms, the replication errors are corrected but the coronaviruses lack this ability. As...
The B.1.617 variant that has caused the recent COVID-19 crisis in India has been implicated in increased transmission of the disease among the population and poses a significant challenge with respect to disease severity and effectiveness of currently available...
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose(2-DG), a glucose analog that inhibits glycolysis, has recently received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in India for the treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. The molecule has been extensively researched and used in clinical trials for its ant-cancer properties....
MicroRNAs or in short miRNAs (not to be confused with mRNA or messenger RNA) were discovered in 1993 and have been extensively studied in the past two decades or so for their role in regulating gene expression. miRNAs are...
Anti-viral properties of manuka honey are due to the presence of methylglyoxal (MG), an arginine directed glycating agent that modifies sites specifically present in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, thereby interfering with its replication and inhibiting the virus. In addition, manuka...
Herd immunity for COVID-19 is said to be achieved when 67% of the population is immune to the virus through infection and/or vaccination, whilst the pathogen remains well-characterized (unmutated) throughout transmission in the population that is well-characterized. In the...
Use of nasal gel as a novel means to inactivate COVID-19 in a biological manner and prevent its entry into human body may help avert community transmission of this virus, thereby helping in disease control and management.
In an effort...
Several new strains of the virus have emerged since the pandemic began. New variants were reported as early as February 2020. The current variant that has brought the UK to standstill this Christmas is said to be 70% more...
University College London Hospitals (UCLH) has announced neutralising antibody trial against COVID-19. The announcement on 25 December 2020 says ‘’UCLH doses first patient in the world in Covid-19 antibody trial’’ and ‘’ Researchers in the STORM CHASER study led by...
The causative analysis of the current crisis in India caused by COVID-19 can be attributed to various factors like sedentary lifestyle of the population, complacency setting in due to the perception of pandemic being over, predisposition of Indian population...
With the advent of COVID-19, there seems to be a negative selection pressure working against those who may be genetically or otherwise (due to their lifestyle, co-morbidities etc.) predisposed to develop severe symptoms, ultimately leading to death. Majority of...
There are reports of Russia registering world’s first vaccine against novel corona virus while the phase 3 trial of this vaccine is still in progress. Developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry, this vaccine is based on the use...
Development of vaccine for COVID-19 is a global priority. In this article, the author has reviewed and evaluated research and development and the present status of vaccine development.
COVID-19 disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been steadily increasing in the...
Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) can be used in the form of mouthwash and nasal spray (especially in Dental and ENT settings) to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to reduce cross-infection and to manage patients at the early stage of disease.
Povidone...
The European Commission has launched www.Covid19DataPortal.org where the researchers can store and rapidly share datasets. The rapid sharing of relevant data would accelerate research and discovery.
With an aim to support researchers by enabling rapid collection and sharing of available research data,...
In the practice of medicine, one generally prefers time tested proven path while treating and trying to prevent diseases. An innovation is usually expected to pass the test of time. The three approved COVID-19 vaccines, two mRNA vaccines and...
All approved COVID-19 vaccines so far are administered in the form of injections. What if the vaccines could be conveniently delivered as spray in the nose? If you do not like shots, here may be the good news! Intranasal administration of...
What causes severe COVID-19 symptoms? Evidences suggest inborn errors of type I Interferon immunity and autoantibodies against type I Interferon are causal for critical COVID-19. These errors can be identified using whole genome sequencing, thereby leading to proper quarantine...
Advanced age and comorbidities are known to be high risk factors for COVID-19. Does genetic make-up predispose some people making them more susceptible to severe symptoms? Conversely, does genetic make-up enable some people to have innate immunity making them...
