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Review
. 2020 Aug 6;8(3):443.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030443.

Investigating Virological, Immunological, and Pathological Avenues to Identify Potential Targets for Developing COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Zafar Mahmood  1 , Hani Alrefai  2   3 , Helal F Hetta  2   4 , Hidaya A Kader  5 , Nayla Munawar  6 , Sheikh Abdul Rahman  7 , Shereen Elshaer  8   9 , Gaber Ei-Saber Batiha  10 , Khalid Muhammad  5
Affiliations
Review

Investigating Virological, Immunological, and Pathological Avenues to Identify Potential Targets for Developing COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Zafar Mahmood et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging coronavirus causing respiratory disease commonly known as COVID-19. This novel coronavirus transmits from human to human and has caused profound morbidity and mortality worldwide leading to the ongoing pandemic. Moreover, disease severity differs considerably from individual to individual. Investigating the virology of COVID-19 and immunological pathways underlying its clinical manifestations will enable the identification and design of effective vaccines and potential therapies. In this review, we explore COVID-19 virology, the contribution of the immune system (innate and adaptive) during infection and control of the virus. Finally, we highlight vaccine development and implications of immune system modulation for potential therapeutic interventions to design better therapeutic strategies to guide future cure.

Keywords: B cells; COVID-19; T cells; vaccine development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coronavirus structure showing the organization of spike (S), membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins. The viral RNA is associated with the nucleocapsid protein (N). ACE: angiotensin converting enzyme; RBD: receptor-binding domains; S1-NTD: N-terminal domain; S1-CTD: C-terminal domain; S1: amino termini; S2: carboxy termini.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Genomic organization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including open reading frames (ORF1a and ORF1b), spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Three-dimensional protein structures of 3CL-protease, endoribonuclease and spike protein bound to the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor are illustrated. PDB: Protein database.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle and potential therapeutic targets.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Immune dysregulation mechanisms during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Clinical phase vaccine candidates for COVID-19.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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