Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: An up-to-date review
focusing on its treatment options and evolution
Abstract
In December 2019, an unknown pneumonia-disease outbreak emerged in in
Wuhan, China. The incriminated causative pathogen, later termed
SARS-CoV-2, was found to be a novel lineage of betacoronavirus,
belonging to subgenus sarbecovirus. Although China has roughly
controlled the epidemic, but the situation in the rest of the world is
becoming less and less optimistic. Scientists and pharmaceutical
companies around the world are actively looking for treatment options.
Till now, there are couple of drugs undergo the clinical trial including
convalescent plasma, which possess valid methods of treating or
preventing the disease. And since considerable studies had already been
carried out based on the analysis of SARS-CoV-2’s genome sequence and
its comparison with that of the other SARS-like virus, let us review in
detail and, hopefully, they might provide us with some key features for
answering some of the crucial questions relating to its origin,
epidemiology, and treatment to better contain the virus. Basing on that,
clues on how to develop a fast and accurate viral diagnostic method and
the way of treating it may also be provided. Up to now, the treating
option constrained only in a few drugs (Remdesivir, Chloroquine,
Hydroxychloroquine, Favipiravir etc.), in addition to the Chinese herb
as well as convalescent plasma. More drugs are only roughly screened by
virtual screening, and they are still far from not achieving the minimum
standards for clinical treatment application. Also, the expected vaccine
was reported but it just started the very first trial and still needs
time to apply on a large scale. Although the very origin of this virus
has been determined to be bats, but till now we still can’t determine
what kind of animal plays the role of the intermediate host, leaving an
issue that needs a further investigation.