The most in-depth study to date of the genetic risk factors for long COVID has identified 73 genes that are highly associated with severe or fatigue-dominant forms of the disease. Many of these genes also are known to be associated with other disorders, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and neurodegenerative, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Since its emergence in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has killed nearly 7 million people. But at the same time, many infections, in particular in children and young adults, are asymptomatic with rapid viral clearance from the body. It remains unclear why many individuals are able to successfully clear infection without major complications while others develop severe disease, even without known risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Now, a new study involving nearly 30,000 individuals has found that variation in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci may underlie processes mediating asymptomatic infection. The findings were reported in the July 19, 2023, online edition of Nature.
Research at Pharmablock Sciences (Nanjing) Inc. has led to the development of spirooxindole compounds acting as 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors and thus reported to be useful for the treatment of viral infections.
The protection against SARS-CoV-2 provided by spike-based vaccines, although effective, tends to decrease as the virus evolves and new variants of concern appear. Researchers from Osivax SAS reported the first results on cross-protection with OVX-033, a new human SARS-CoV-2 vaccine generated via the oligoDOM platform.
The search for novel therapies that complement vaccine-induced immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 continues. In previous work, researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and collaborators developed a cell-permeable and highly selective peptide called NACE2i, targeting nuclear angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In particular, NACE2i spans and targets the ACE2 nuclear localization signal motif, successfully inhibiting nuclear translocation of ACE2 and viral replication in human cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf has patented 3-((3-([1,1’-biphenyl]-3-ylmethoxy)phenoxy)methyl)benzonitrile derivatives that are radiolabeled compounds targeting programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1; CD274). They are reported to be potentially useful for the diagnosis and/or radionuclide therapy treatment of cancer and SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and the Wuhan Institute of Virology Chinese Academy of Sciences have prepared and tested cyclic bisbenzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of fibrosis, viral infections and inflammatory disorders.
Scripps Research Institute has described nucleoside analogues acting as prodrugs reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza (flu) viruses share similar clinical manifestations, common transmission mechanisms and target tissues, often overlapping during seasonal outbreaks. In addition, co-infection of these viruses worsens disease severity, emphasizing the pressing need for a vaccine that effectively tackles both.
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. has synthesized spirocyclic compounds acting as 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of coronavirus acute respiratory syndrome.
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