Biomarkers of COVID-19 and technologies to combat SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Due to the unprecedented public health crisis caused by COVID-19, our first contribution to the newly launching journal, Advances in Biomarker Sciences and Technology, has abruptly diverted to focus on the current pandemic. As the number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise steadily around the world, the common goal of healthcare providers, scientists, and government officials worldwide has been to identify the best way to detect the novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, and to treat the viral infection - COVID-19. Accurate detection, timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and future prevention are the vital keys to management of COVID-19, and can help curb the viral spread. Traditionally, biomarkers play a pivotal role in the early detection of disease etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. To assist myriad ongoing investigations and innovations, we developed this current article to overview known and emerging biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 detection, COVID-19 diagnostics, treatment and prognosis, and ongoing work to identify and develop more biomarkers for new drugs and vaccines. Moreover, biomarkers of socio-psychological stress, the high-technology quest for new virtual drug screening, and digital applications are described.

Keywords: ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; ACEI, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; AI, Artificial intelligence; AIOD-CRISPR, All-In-One Dual CRISPR-Cas12a; ARB, Angiotensin receptor blocker; ARDS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; CQ, Chloroquine; CT, Computed tomography; Coronavirus; DC, Dendritic cell; Detection; Diagnosis; ELISA, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; EUA, Emergency use authorization; FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; GenOMICC, Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care; HCQ, Hydroxychloroquine; LFAs, Lateral flow assays; LSPR, Localized surface plasmon resonance; MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome; ML, Machine learning; NIAID, U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH, National Institutes of Health; PAC-MAN, Prophylactic Antiviral CRISPR in huMAN cells; PCR, Polymerase chain reaction; PCT, Procalcitonin; Prevention; Prognosis; RT-PCR, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SARS, Severe acute respiratory syndrome; SARS-CoV-2, SARS coronavirus type 2; SaaS, Software as a Service; TCM, Traditional Chinese medicine; Treatment; UCB, University of California Berkeley; UCSF, University of California San Francisco; cDNA, Complementary DNA; mAb, Monoclonal antibody.

Fig. 1

Basics of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. a) Structure of SARS-CoV-2: Viral RNA and structural proteins (S, E, M, N); b) Viral entry and life cycle: Host-pathogen interactions; and c) Roles of ACE, ACE2, ACEIs and ARBs (ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; ACEIs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs, angiotensin receptor blockers).

Fig. 2

ACE2 distribution in human tissues and specific cell types.

Fig. 3

Schematic of serological antibody treatment and prevention for COVID-19. a) Convalescent serum therapy; and, b) Antibody testing by a lateral flow assay.