Everyday Science in a Nutshell

Despite major coronavirus immunisation programmes across the world, rigorous public health surveillance and fast diagnostic tests are regarded as the most effective ways to reduce COVID-19. The reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 (RT-qPCR). Droplet digital RT-PCR (RT-ddPCR) provides an appealing platform for quantifying SARS-CoV-2 RNA. High sensitivity and specificity, the necessity for highly skilled workers, and the need for special facilities and expensive apparatus all limit its adoption, particularly in poor nations. Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology that is commonly utilised for SARS-CoV-2 detection in clinical samples. Because of its inherent benefits such as sensitivity, speed, the absence of a heat cycler, and resistance to sample inhibitors, RT-LAMP is a prospective alternative to RT-qPCR. LAMP takes less than an hou...

It is widely acknowledged that the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 differ between males and females. However, the underlying reasons for this are unknown. On 26 August 2020, a novel study published in Nature   revealed that COVID-19 male patients had elevated plasma levels of innate immune cytokines such as IL-18 and IL-8, as well as more intense stimulation of non-classical monocytes. Female patients, on the other hand, had significantly stronger T cell stimulation than male patients, which persisted in older age. Researchers also discovered that a poor T cell response had a negative impact on patients' ages and was associated to worse disease outcomes in male patients but not in female patients. In contrast, increased innate immune cytokines in female patients were associated with worse disease progression, but not in male patients. The importance of this study is that it provides a possible explanation for observed sex biases in COVID-19 progression, as male patients are more like...

A recent study published in the journal Function  14, 2020, indicated that mouthwashes may inhibit the spread of COVID-19. Researchers hypothesized that commonly accessible dental mouthwash components such as chlorhexidine, ethanol, cetylpyridinium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and povidone-iodine may damage the viral lipid membrane of SARS-CoV-2. This might impede the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Although this appears promising, further evidence-based investigations are required before reaching this conclusion. References https://academic.oup.com/function/advance-article/doi/10.1093/function/zqaa002/5836301 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mouthwash-may-reduce-spread-of-the-new-coronavirus#Disrupting-the-envelopes

Recent research published in  Nature   on May 14, 2020, claimed that dogs received coronavirus from their owners . Using quantitative RT-PCR, serology, and viral genome sequencing, two out of fifteen canines from households with confirmed human cases of COVID-19 were discovered to be infected in Hong Kong. Coronavirus viral genetic sequences from the two dogs were similar to the coronavirus found in the relevant human cases. During quarantine, the animals exhibit no symptoms. The data implies that there are incidences of SARS-CoV-2 transfer from human to animal. It is still unknown if sick canines may spread coronavirus to other animals or back to people. References https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01430-5 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2334-5_reference.pdf

A recent study published in the journal Aging and Disease   on May 13, 2020, indicated that several of the human miRNAs targeting COVID-19 decreased with aging and underlying health problems. This may explain why elderly people and those with other underlying health concerns are more prone to severe COVID-19 symptoms. When the human body detects viral RNA within a cell, it produces a variety of microRNAs that can enhance the body's inflammatory response and operate directly on the virus, with a different response for each virus.   References https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/micrornas-attacking-new-coronavirus-reduce-with-age-health-condition http://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2020.0428

New research published in the  New England Journal of Medicine   on May 13, 2020, discovered that cats may spread COVID-19 to other cats. SARS-CoV-2 was administered to three household cats. Then, a cat free of SARS-CoV-2 was kept with each of the injected cats to investigate if the virus could be spread through direct contact. After four days, the virus was found in all three cats who shared a home with the inoculated animals. It is also worth noting that none of the cats in this research had any symptoms. Because cats may be a quiet intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2, there is rising public concern about the possibility of a human-cat-human transmission cycle. This is a critical topic that must be acknowledged and examined. Reference https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2013400

On May 13, 2020, a stunning research published in Lancet   discovered that unique severe Kawasaki-like disease in children caused by COVID-19 was reported in several nations including Italy and the United Kingdom. This highlights the possibility of a link between COVID-19 and Kawasaki-like illness. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection affects children infrequently, a tiny fraction of them develop Kawasaki-like illness. Kawasaki illness, a rare acute paediatric vasculitis, mostly affects children under the age of five. Coronary artery aneurysms are the most common complication of Kawasaki illness. The presence of persistent fever, lymphadenopathy, conjunctival injection, and alterations to the mucosae and extremities is used to make the diagnosis (swollen extremities). The absence of a good diagnostic test impedes the diagnosis of Kawasaki illness, which is most reliant on laboratory and clinical criteria. Ongoing research is attempting to determine the link between COVID-19 and the Kawasa...

A new study published on April 30, 2020 in Journal Critical Care   indicated that the protein soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) may assist researchers anticipate who is likely to have more severe COVID-19 symptoms. In other words, suPAR may be regarded as a proxy measure of COVID-19 severity. The researchers examined data from 57 patients at Greece's University of Athens Medical School and 5 COVID-19 patients at Rush University Medical Center. They discovered that patients with greater amounts of suPAR in their blood needed intubation sooner than individuals with lower levels of suPAR. This is the first publication to suggest that suPAR is higher in COVID-19 and may be indicative of COVID-19 severity. This study is important not just for identifying patients who are more likely to require immediate intensive care, but also for identifying individuals who can safely manage the condition at home. References https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-sugges...

Groundbreaking research published in  Nature  on April 30, 2020, found 66 druggable human proteins or host factors. 69 molecules potentially target these factors: 29 FDA-approved medications, 12 clinical trial pharmaceuticals, and 28 experimental compounds. Researchers tested a selection of these compounds in various viral tests and discovered two types of pharmacological drugs with antiviral activity: mRNA translation inhibitors and anticipated regulators of the Sigma1 and Sigma2 receptors. References https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-scientists-identify-promising-drug-candidates https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2286-9#Abs1

SARS-CoV-2 is very stable at 4°C but vulnerable to heat (70°C), according to a study published in The Lancet   on May 1, 2020. On day 14, researchers discovered an almost 0-7 log-unit drop in infectious titre at 4°C, while the duration for viral inactivation was lowered to 5 minutes at 70°C. They also discovered that the virus may be highly stable in a favourable environment, with a wide range of pH values (pH 3-10) at room temperature, but it is also sensitive to typical disinfection treatments. References https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext

on May 1, 2020. On day 14, researchers detected an almost 0-7 log-unit decline in infectious titre at 4°C, while viral inactivation time was reduced to 5 minutes at 70°C. They also observed that while the virus is relatively stable in a favourable environment with a wide range of pH values (pH 3-10) at room temperature, it is nevertheless susceptible to standard disinfection procedures.

On May 8, 2020, a groundbreaking study published in The Lancet   reported that early triple antiviral therapy (interferon beta-1b, lopinavir-ritonavir, and ribavirin) was safe and superior to lopinavir-ritonavir alone in relieving symptoms and shortening the duration of shedding of the novel coronavirus and hospital stay in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. According to the findings of a clinical trial in Hong Kong, patients who received triple antiviral medication reached the threshold of no detectable virus five days quicker than those in the control group - at seven days vs twelve days. References https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31042-4/fulltext https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-triple-drug/triple-antiviral-drug-shows-early-promise-in-covid-19-trial-idUSKBN22K2Z9 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/triple-anti-viral-drug-shows-covid-19-promise-hong-kong-study-200509082156229.html

On May 7, 2020, a groundbreaking study published in  JAMA Network  discovered that a few male patients carried the new coronavirus in their sperm, sparking a heated discussion about whether SARS-CoV-2 might be transferred sexually. This research comprised 38 patients being treated at Shangqiu Municipal Hospital in Henan province for severe COVID-19 illness. 15 patients provided sperm samples during the acute period, and 23 provided samples immediately after recovery. In the semen samples, SARS-CoV-2 was found in 4 of 15 acute phase patients and 2 of 23 recovered patients. The limited sample size and short follow-up period are two of the study's weaknesses. As a result, more research is needed to learn more about the virus's shedding, survival duration, and concentration in semen. References https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/covid-19-found-in-semen-of-infected-men-say-chinese-doctors https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-found-in-semen-of-young-men-with-covid-19-...

On May 7, 2020, Chinese scientists published the first animal testing report on a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the world. PiCoVacc, a vaccine developed by Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, is based on a well-known way of preventing the virus from infecting cells: Injecting a weak virus into an animal's body, causing the immune system to produce antibodies. Surprisingly, the antibodies can also destroy regular viruses. They put the vaccine into rhesus macaques, a kind of monkey found in India, and then exposed the monkeys to SARS-CoV-2 after three weeks. After another week, the monkeys that had gotten the greatest doses of the PiCoVacc had no virus in their lungs, showing that the vaccination was successful. The monkeys that did not receive the vaccination, on the other hand, were infected with the virus and had severe pneumonia as a result. Since mid-April, this vaccine has been subjected to human testing in China. PiCoVacc might be humanity's new chance for avoiding the tragic a...

A communication published in the Lancet  n May 4, 2020 discovered that young obese people are more likely to suffer from severe COVID-19 illness. Researchers discovered that younger patients admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States were more likely to be fat. Obesity reduces diaphragm excursion, which limits breathing, and therefore reduces immunological responses to viral infection. It is also pro-inflammatory and leads to diabetes and oxidative stress, all of which have a deleterious impact on cardiovascular function. Reference https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31024-2/fulltext

On March 3, 2020, a very recent study published in National Science Review found that two strains of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) are spreading around the world, based on the analysis of 103 SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Researchers found that these viruses evolved into two major types (L and S), which are well defined by two different Single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs that show nearly complete linkage across the viral strains sequenced to date. Approximately 70 % of samples were L type, whereas 30 % of samples were S type (the ancestral version).  In the early stages of outbreak in Wuhan, the L type was more prevalent. But, after this, the frequency of the L type decreased, which may be attributed to the fact that human intervention may have placed more severe selective pressure on the L type ( the more aggressive and spread one) On the other hand, the S type, which is evolutionary older and less aggressive, might have increased in relative frequency due to relat...

Hong Kong authorities confirmed that a pet dog belonging to a coronavirus patient is infected with a “low level” of the virus, marking what’s likely the first known instance of human-to-animal transmission. The dog had tested “weak positive” for the virus last week, raising the question of whether it had been contaminated by traces of the virus in its surroundings or genuinely infected with a disease. Further tests confirmed the virus in the pet’s nasal and oral cavities, “which indicates a low-level of infection" said Hong Kong’s agricultural and fisheries department in an official statement late Wednesday The dog has not shown any symptoms of Covid-19 and will remain in quarantine until it tests negative, the department said. References https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202003/04/P2020030400658.htm https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/03/05/Dog-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-in-Hong-Kong-SCMP-.html?fbclid=IwAR2VA7x9sFWdpcuiYLenvNxZxzfxVyglDR...

On February 24, 2020, an unprecedented study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that novel antiviral drug Remdesivir could be used against new coronavirus or the deadly COVID-19. The novel antiviral drug Remdesivir is a member in the class of nucleotide analogs. Back in 2014, it was developed by Gilead Sciences as a treatment for Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus infections. According to the authors of the study from the University of Alberta, the Remdesivir had previously been found to be effective against other similar viruses such as MERS and SARS, which are also coronaviruses and are structurally similar to COVID-19. The team, therefore, wanted to test the efficacy of Remdesivir against the new COVID-19 strain. References https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200301/Drug-for-Ebola-MERS-effective-against-COVID-19.aspx https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-clinical-trial-remdesivir-treat-covid-19-begins https://ww...

Health officials repeatedly  advised suspected contacts  of people with the new coronavirus disease to isolate themselves for 14 days, the incubation period of the disease. If they did not develop any symptoms, they are free to go. Now, health officials have warned that the incubation period can be more than previously thought. It could be 27 days! In China, a man, who had close contact with a family member who tested positive of the coronavirus, developed symptoms after 27 days of exposure.  References https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200224/Coronavirus-incubation-period-could-be-27-days-longer-than-previously-thought.aspx Dong, E., Du, H., and Gardner, L. (2020). An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. The Lancet. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30120-1/fulltext U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.c...

On February 4, 2020, a new study published in ACS Infectious Diseases found that a non-psychoactive cannabis compound called cannabigerol (CBG) has antibiotic potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in mice. Researchers found that CBG is able to target the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-positive bacteria. References https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00419 https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200226/Researchers-uncover-hidden-antibiotic-potential-of-cannabis-compound.aspx .