Evolution of SARS-CoV-2: impact of variants on hosts, COVID-19 vaccines and countermeasures

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2: impact of variants on hosts, COVID-19 vaccines and countermeasures PDF Author: Seshadri Vasan
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832537944
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
The ‘novel coronavirus disease’ (COVID-19) has caused significant global morbidity, mortality and economic damage on a scale similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918. The causative ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) is a RNA virus which is evolving rapidly, accumulating mutations, and existing as a cloud of variants with quasispecies diversity. We have tens of thousands of variants, of which currently two are ‘variants of interest’ (Lambda, Mu) and another four ‘variants of concern’ (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) to the World Health Organization (WHO). Variants of interest often emerge as variants under investigation in one or more countries, as seen with the Omicron (initially denoted as Nu in South Africa). They become variants of concern when there is evidence of increased transmissibility, greater case severity, loss of neutralization by antibodies, and reduced effectiveness of countermeasures. Some SARS-CoV-2 variants can infect new hosts (for instance, the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants of concern can infect wild type mice which is a species that cannot be vaccinated or controlled easily), and/or reduce the effectiveness of vaccines and therapies (especially Beta and Delta); diagnostic tests have also been reported to be affected. Currently, we do not yet have any ‘variant of high consequence’ with confirmed attributes such as widespread diagnostic test failures, significant reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines and/or therapies, with greater disease severity and deaths. It remains to be seen if Omicron would be the first to be declared by the WHO as a variant of high consequence; more variants of concern are also likely to be declared by the WHO over the next couple of years. Therefore, our ability to control and conquer this pandemic over the long run is dependent on predicting and keeping up with the evolution of this virus, its new hosts, as well as understanding and mitigating its impact on diagnostics, vaccines and therapies.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2: impact of variants on hosts, COVID-19 vaccines and countermeasures

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2: impact of variants on hosts, COVID-19 vaccines and countermeasures PDF Author: Seshadri Vasan
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832537944
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 116

Get Book Here

Book Description
The ‘novel coronavirus disease’ (COVID-19) has caused significant global morbidity, mortality and economic damage on a scale similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918. The causative ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) is a RNA virus which is evolving rapidly, accumulating mutations, and existing as a cloud of variants with quasispecies diversity. We have tens of thousands of variants, of which currently two are ‘variants of interest’ (Lambda, Mu) and another four ‘variants of concern’ (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) to the World Health Organization (WHO). Variants of interest often emerge as variants under investigation in one or more countries, as seen with the Omicron (initially denoted as Nu in South Africa). They become variants of concern when there is evidence of increased transmissibility, greater case severity, loss of neutralization by antibodies, and reduced effectiveness of countermeasures. Some SARS-CoV-2 variants can infect new hosts (for instance, the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants of concern can infect wild type mice which is a species that cannot be vaccinated or controlled easily), and/or reduce the effectiveness of vaccines and therapies (especially Beta and Delta); diagnostic tests have also been reported to be affected. Currently, we do not yet have any ‘variant of high consequence’ with confirmed attributes such as widespread diagnostic test failures, significant reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines and/or therapies, with greater disease severity and deaths. It remains to be seen if Omicron would be the first to be declared by the WHO as a variant of high consequence; more variants of concern are also likely to be declared by the WHO over the next couple of years. Therefore, our ability to control and conquer this pandemic over the long run is dependent on predicting and keeping up with the evolution of this virus, its new hosts, as well as understanding and mitigating its impact on diagnostics, vaccines and therapies.

The Immunoglobulin FactsBook

The Immunoglobulin FactsBook PDF Author: Marie-Paule Lefranc
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080574475
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
The FactsBook series has established itself as the best source of easily accessible and accurate facts about protein groups. Books in the series use an easy-to-follow format and are meticulously researched and compiled by experts in the field.The Immunoglobulin FactsBook is the first published reference for all 203 human functional and ORF immunoglobulin genes. It is complete and standardized and employs nomenclature approved by the HUGO Nomenclature Committee.

The Coronaviridae

The Coronaviridae PDF Author: Stuart G. Siddell
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1489915311
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
Coronaviruses were recognized as a group of enveloped, RNA viruses in 1968 and accepted by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses as a separate family, the Coronaviridae, in 1975. By 1978, it had become evident that the coronavirus genomic RNA was infectious (i. e. , positive strand), and by 1983, at least the framework of the coronavirus replication strategy had been per ceived. Subsequently, with the application of recombinant DNA techniques, there have been remarkable advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of coronaviruses, and a mass of structural data concerning coronavirus genomes, mRNAs, and pro teins now exists. More recently, attention has been focused on the role of essential and accessory gene products in the coronavirus replication cyde and a molecular analysis of the structure-function relation ships of coronavirus proteins. Nevertheless, there are still large gaps in our knowledge, for instance, in areas such as the genesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNAs or the function of the coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The diseases caused by coronaviruses have been known for much longer than the agents themselves. Possibly the first coronavirus-related disease to be recorded was feline infectious peritonitis, as early as 1912. The diseases associ ated with infectious bronchitis virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and murine hepatitis virus were all well known before 1950.

Structural Virology

Structural Virology PDF Author: Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
ISBN: 184973223X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
Over the last ten years, much effort has been devoted to improving the biophysical techniques used in the study of viruses. This has resulted in the visualization of these large macromolecular assemblages at atomic level, thus providing the platform for functional interpretation and therapeutic design. Structural Virology covers a wide range of topics and is split into three sections. The first discusses the vast biophysical methodologies used in structural virology, including sample production and purification, confocal microscopy, mass spectrometry, negative-stain and cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The second discusses the role of virus capsid protein structures in determining the functional roles required for receptor recognition, cellular entry, capsid assembly, genome packaging and mechanisms of host immune system evasion. The last section discusses therapeutic strategies based on virus protein structures, including the design of antiviral drugs and the development of viral capsids as vehicles for foreign gene delivery. Each topic covered will begin with a review of the current literature followed by a more detailed discussion of experimental procedures, a step in the viral life cycle, or strategies for therapeutic development. With contributions from experts in the field of structural biology and virology this exceptional monograph will appeal to biomedical scientists involved in basic and /or applied research on viruses. It also provides up-to-date reference material for students entering the field of structural virology as well as scientists already familiar with the area.

AACR Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care

AACR Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care PDF Author: American Association for Cancer Research
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781734743296
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


World Health Statistics 2009

World Health Statistics 2009 PDF Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
ISBN: 9241563818
Category : Communicable diseases
Languages : en
Pages : 150

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Book Description
World Health Statistics 2009 contains WHO's annual compilation of data from its 193 member states, and includes a summary of progress towards the health-related millennium development goals and targets. This edition also contains a new section on reported cases of selected infectious diseases. It provides a comprehensive summary of the current status of national health and health systems including; mortality and burden of disease, causes of death, reported infectious diseases, health service coverage, risk factors, health systems resources, health expenditures, inequities and demographic and socioeconomic statistics. The section on inequities presents statistics on the distribution of selected health outcomes and interventions within countries, disaggregated by sex, age, urban and rural settings, wealth, and educational level. WHO presents World Health Statistics 2009 as an integral part of its ongoing effort to inform better measures of population health and national health systems.

National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness PDF Author: Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1510767614
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 329

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Book Description
The ultimate guide for anyone wondering how President Joe Biden will respond to the COVID-19 pandemic—all his plans, goals, and executive orders in response to the coronavirus crisis. Shortly after being inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden and his administration released this 200 page guide detailing his plans to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness breaks down seven crucial goals of President Joe Biden's administration with regards to the coronavirus pandemic: 1. Restore trust with the American people. 2. Mount a safe, effective, and comprehensive vaccination campaign. 3. Mitigate spread through expanding masking, testing, data, treatments, health care workforce, and clear public health standards. 4. Immediately expand emergency relief and exercise the Defense Production Act. 5. Safely reopen schools, businesses, and travel while protecting workers. 6. Protect those most at risk and advance equity, including across racial, ethnic and rural/urban lines. 7. Restore U.S. leadership globally and build better preparedness for future threats. Each of these goals are explained and detailed in the book, with evidence about the current circumstances and how we got here, as well as plans and concrete steps to achieve each goal. Also included is the full text of the many Executive Orders that will be issued by President Biden to achieve each of these goals. The National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness is required reading for anyone interested in or concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on American society.

Emerging Viral Diseases

Emerging Viral Diseases PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309314003
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Book Description
In the past half century, deadly disease outbreaks caused by novel viruses of animal origin - Nipah virus in Malaysia, Hendra virus in Australia, Hantavirus in the United States, Ebola virus in Africa, along with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), several influenza subtypes, and the SARS (sudden acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronaviruses - have underscored the urgency of understanding factors influencing viral disease emergence and spread. Emerging Viral Diseases is the summary of a public workshop hosted in March 2014 to examine factors driving the appearance, establishment, and spread of emerging, re-emerging and novel viral diseases; the global health and economic impacts of recently emerging and novel viral diseases in humans; and the scientific and policy approaches to improving domestic and international capacity to detect and respond to global outbreaks of infectious disease. This report is a record of the presentations and discussion of the event.

Economic Policy for a Pandemic Age

Economic Policy for a Pandemic Age PDF Author: Monica de Bolle
Publisher: Peterson Institute for International Economics
ISBN: 0881327425
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
The global health and economic threats from the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet behind us. While the development of multiple safe and highly effective vaccines in less than a year is cause for hope, several significant dangers to recovery of global health and income are still clear and present: New concerning variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continue to emerge at an alarming rate in different parts of the world; at the same time, vaccine rollouts have been shockingly inefficient even in some rich countries, while much of the developing world waits in line behind them for vaccines to arrive. The Briefing covers several policy areas in which cooperative forward-looking policy action will materially improve our chances of truly escaping today's pandemic and making future pandemics less costly.

Learning from SARS

Learning from SARS PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309182158
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in late 2002 and 2003 challenged the global public health community to confront a novel epidemic that spread rapidly from its origins in southern China until it had reached more than 25 other countries within a matter of months. In addition to the number of patients infected with the SARS virus, the disease had profound economic and political repercussions in many of the affected regions. Recent reports of isolated new SARS cases and a fear that the disease could reemerge and spread have put public health officials on high alert for any indications of possible new outbreaks. This report examines the response to SARS by public health systems in individual countries, the biology of the SARS coronavirus and related coronaviruses in animals, the economic and political fallout of the SARS epidemic, quarantine law and other public health measures that apply to combating infectious diseases, and the role of international organizations and scientific cooperation in halting the spread of SARS. The report provides an illuminating survey of findings from the epidemic, along with an assessment of what might be needed in order to contain any future outbreaks of SARS or other emerging infections.