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Review
. 2022 Jun 2:2022:7856659.
doi: 10.1155/2022/7856659. eCollection 2022.

SARS-CoV-2: Molecular Structure, Pathogenesis, Potential Therapeutic Targets, and Immune Response of the Infected Subject

R Wumba  1 , M Mandina  2 , Y Nlandu  3 , J R Makulo  3 , A Tshimpi  4 , P Mbala  5   6 , A Mbangama  7 , P Kabututu  8 , J M Kayembe  9
Affiliations
Review

SARS-CoV-2: Molecular Structure, Pathogenesis, Potential Therapeutic Targets, and Immune Response of the Infected Subject

R Wumba et al. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: The pathogenic mechanisms and immune response of COVID-19 are far from clear. Through a documentary review of literature, the authors describe virological and molecular aspects of SARS-CoV-2, the intimate mechanisms of cell infection, and potential therapeutic targets. They also analyze the characteristics of immune response of the infected subject.

Objectives: Objectives of this study are to describe the state of knowledge on virological data, molecular and physiopathogenic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2, with a view to a better understanding of the therapeutic targets, as well as the immune response of the infected subject. Methodology. This documentary review is a compilation of several meta-analyses, consistent with the methodology described in the PRISMA statement on literature data on SARS-CoV-2, published between March 22 and August 14, 2020 (Moher et al.). The search engines used for the selection of articles were as follows: PubMed, Google Scholar, Global Health, and WHO reports. Papers of interest were those addressing virological and molecular data on SARS-CoV-2, therapeutic aspects of COVID-19, and immunity of the infected subject. Of the 617 eligible papers, 417 could be retained after removing the duplicates. Ultimately, only 50 articles were retained for final evaluation. The data collected allowed the development of a two-armed model around the physiopathological aspects and potential therapeutic targets, as well as aspects of host immunity, respectively. The model was then compared to data from the HIV literature.

Conclusion: Reported data could contribute to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of cellular infection by SARS-CoV-2 as well as to a more easy explanation of the action of pharmacological agents used for the treatment, while elucidating intimate mechanisms of the immunity of infected subject.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of selecting articles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structure and differentiated elements between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV (Sources: UCL/AUF; https://en.wikipedia.org completed by this study).
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Replication scheme, pathophysiology, and potential therapeutic targets (Source: this study). (b) Diagram (continued) of replication, pathophysiology, and potential therapeutic targets (Source: https://wikipedia.org and this study).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Description of the expressions of reading frames Orf1 to Orf2, protein S, and Orf3a to 9b (Source: https://mdpi.com supplemented by this study).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of the actions of SARS-CoV-2 and Pf sporozoites on HSPG2 (Source https://wikipedia.org and afc.asso.fr).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Immune response of the infected host and the different situations (Source: this study).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Serological curves of the evolution of IgM Ab/IgG primary invasion versus secondary or anamnestic reaction (Source: CliniSciences supplemented by this study).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Comparison of HCQ actions in SARS-CoV-2 and Pf trophozoites (Sources: https://wikipedia.org and Futura-Sciences completed in this study).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 2020. https://who.int .
    1. World Health Organization. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) 2019. https://who.intFollowing WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases, which were developed in consultation and collaboration with the World Organization For Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO Has Named the Disease COVID-19, Short for “Coronavirus Disease 2019”.
    1. en-GB. Coronavirus Disease Named Covid-19 . Londan, UK: BBC News; 2020.
    1. Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. 2020. https://wjw.wuhan.gov.cn .
    1. Zhu N., Zhang D., Wang W., Li X. A novel coronavirus from patients with pneumonia in China, 2019. New England Journal of Medicine . 2020;382(8):727–733. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001017. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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