Pathogenesis of covid - 19 - Pandemonium of the pandemic in Pandora's box

Abstract

The novel disease of 2019 by name coronavirus (Covid - 19 or SARS - CoV - 2), was first detected in December of 2019 in the Seafood Market of Huanan in Wuhan region of China. In less than a month it was proclaimed as a pandemic by The World Health Organization (WHO). Now, even after a year, it still remains to be a concern as a jeopardy to the global public health. The inception of Covid-19 has been identified as the third encounter of a highly morbific coronavirus after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS - CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS_CoV) causing coronaviruses, in merely two decades. In this review, we illustrate the general features of coronavirus and highlight the pathogenesis of the disease, bringing forth the different theories of disease progression, which may help clinicians and other health professionals to achieve a direction for further research, therapeutic protocols and development of the vaccine for combating SARS - CoV - 2 infection.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Covid - 19; SARS - CoV - 2; pandemic; pathogenesis.

Figure 1

Electron microscope image of human coronavirus showing club-shaped projections, which are the most distinctive feature of these pleomorphic particles. X 180,000

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of coronavirus showing location of structural proteins. M- Membrane Protein, E–envelope Protein, N- Nucleoprotein, S – Spike Glycoprotein

Figure 3

Commonly identified symptoms of Covid–19 showing general similarities with that of other beta coronaviruses