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Review
. 2020 Nov:148:104484.
doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104484. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Immune response in COVID-19: What do we currently know?

Daniela S Oliveira  1 , Nayara I Medeiros  2 , Juliana A S Gomes  3
Affiliations
Review

Immune response in COVID-19: What do we currently know?

Daniela S Oliveira et al. Microb Pathog. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

In 2002/2003 there was a pandemic denominate SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), caused by the SARS-CoV virus that belongs to the genera Betacoranavirus and the family Coronaviridae, generally responsible for influenza infections. In mid of 2019, a new disease by the coronavirus named by COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged, both infections have flu symptoms, however they are infections that variable intensity, being medium to severe. In medium infections individuals have the virus and exhibit symptoms, however hospitalization is not necessary, in severe infections, individuals are hospitalized, have high pathology and in some cases progress to death. The virus is formed by simple positive RNA, enveloped, non-segmented, and presenting the largest genome of viruses constituting 32 Kb, consisting of envelope proteins, membrane, nucleocapsid and spike protein, which is essential in the interaction with the host cells. As for the origin of this virus, research has been intensified to determine this paradox and although the similarity with SARS-CoV, this virus did not has necessarily the same place of origin. As for the immune system, it is currently unknown how this new virus interacts. In this brief review, we demonstrate important considerations about the responses to this infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no commercial or financial conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Representative design of the essential structures of the coronavirus.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Representative design of the viral replication cycle (SARS-Cov).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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