Summary

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and the disease now affects nearly every country and region. Caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 continues nearly 18 months later to present significant challenges to health systems and public health in both hemispheres, as well as the economies of every country. The morbidity and mortality of the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been significant, and various waves of disease outbreaks initially overwhelmed many hospitals and clinics and continue to do so in many countries. This influences everyone, and public health countermeasures have been dramatic in terms of their impact on employment, social systems, and mental health. This entry collection aims to gather diverse fields about COVID-19, including in epidemiology, public health, medicine, genetics, systems biology, informatics, data science, engineering, sociology, anthropology, nursing, environmental studies, statistics, and psychology.

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Entries
Topic Review
Mitochondrial DNA and COVID-19
The importance of mitochondria in inflammatory pathologies, besides providing energy, is associated with the release of mitochondrial damage products, such as mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA), which may perpetuate inflammation. It should be noted the importance of mitochondria, as organelles that produce energy and intervene in multiple pathologies, focusing mainly in COVID-19 and using multiple molecular mechanisms that allow for the replication and maintenance of the viral genome, leading to the exacerbation and spread of the inflammatory response. 
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Multi-Organ Histopathological Changes
Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, causes a respiratory illness that can severely impact other organ systems and is possibly precipitated by cytokine storm, septic shock, thrombosis, and oxidative stress. SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals may be asymptomatic or may experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms with or without pneumonia.
  • 953
  • 13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Natural Sources against Coronavirus Protease
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is one of the molecular targets for drug design. Effective vaccines have been identified as a long-term solution but the rate at which they are being administered is slow in several countries, and mutations of SARS-CoV-2 could render them less effective.
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Lung Fibrosis after COVID-19
The incidence rate of post-COVID lung fibrosis can be estimated at 2–6% after a moderate illness. According to this estimation, the prevalence of post-COVID lung fibrosis will be from 10 to 30 patients per 10,000 populations, which is 30 times higher than the IPF prevalence.
  • 1.6K
  • 08 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Type I Interferon
Together with type III IFNs, Type I Interferons (IFNs-I) represent the first line of immune defense against viral infections. In the case of RNA viruses, after recognition of viral products by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as the main cytosolic receptors RNA helicases retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), the signal converges on the activation of the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS), that, in turns, activates the TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), leading to the phosphorylation and activation of IFN-regulatory factors 3 and 7 (IRF3, IRF7) [6,7]. IRFs then translocate to the nucleus and induce the production of IFNs-I (IFNα, IFNβ, IFNε, IFNτ, IFNκ, IFNω, IFNδ and IFNζ).
  • 1.0K
  • 07 Sep 2021
Topic Review
COVID-19 Biomarkers and Point-of-Care Diagnosis
COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2 is a novel, respiratory virus currently plaguing humanity. Genetically, at its core, it is a single-strand positive-sense RNA virus. It is a beta-type Coronavirus and is distinct in its structure and binding mechanism compared to other types of coronaviruses. Testing for the virus remains a challenge due to the small market available for at-home detection. Currently, there are three main types of tests for biomarker detection: viral, antigen and antibody. Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard for viral testing. However, the lack of quantitative detection and turnaround time for results are drawbacks. This manuscript focuses on recent advances in COVID-19 detection that have lower limits of detection and faster response times than RT-PCR testing. The advancements in sensing platforms have amplified the detection levels and provided real-time results for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection with limits as low as 1 fg/mL in the Graphene Field Effect Transistor (FET) sensor. Additionally, using multiple biomarkers, detection levels can achieve a specificity and sensitivity level comparable to that of PCR testing. Proper biomarker selection coupled with nano sensing detection platforms are key in the widespread use of Point of Care (POC) diagnosis in COVID-19 detection.
  • 1.3K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 RBD
The genetic mutation of SARS-CoV-2 -especially RBD- might be linked to the viral properties that influence the viral transmission mode and severity of COVID-19 as well as RBD conformation. One of the dominant variants during COVID-19 pandemic has been the D614G mutation (not in the RBD region) of S glycoprotein; several reports have claimed that this mutation is able to increase the infectivity and stability of SARS-CoV-2. Up until now, most neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 have been targeting its RBD. However, there have been several mutations reported in SARS-CoV-2 RBD, such as N501Y, L452R, S477N, E484K, A502S, N439K, S494P, T478K, K417N, and K417T. These mutations pose a threat due to their role in host cell entry via the hACE2 receptor, which might strengthen SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, conformation and stability of RBD, viral load, or resistance against neutralizing antibodies.
  • 913
  • 01 Sep 2021
Topic Review
β-Thalassemia Heterozygotes
β-Thalassemia is the most prevalent single gene blood disorder, while the assessment of its susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) warrants it a pressing biomedical priority.
  • 1.3K
  • 02 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Industrial Animal Farming and COVID-19
The threat of zoonoses (i.e., human infectious diseases transmitted from animals) because of industrial animal farming may be receiving less attention in society due to the putative wildlife origin of COVID-19. To identify societal responses to COVID-19 that do address or affect the risk of future zoonoses associated with industrial animal farming, the literature was screened for measures, actions, proposals and attitudes following the guidelines of a scoping review. Forty-one articles with relevant information published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2021 were identified directly or indirectly via bibliographies from 138 records retrieved via Google Scholar. Analysis of relevant content revealed ten fields of policy action amongst which biosecurity and change in dietary habits were the dominant topics. Further search for more relevant records within each field of policy action retrieved another 8 articles. Identified responses were furthermore classified and evaluated according to groups of societal actors, implying different modes of regulation and governance. Based on the results, a suggested policy strategy is presented for moving away from food production in factory farms and supporting sustainable farming, involving the introduction of a tax on the demand side and subsidies for the development and production of alternative meat.
  • 1.4K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Multi-Drug Resistance Bacterial Infections
It is known that bacterial infections represent a common complication during viral respiratory tract infections such as influenza, with a concomitant increase in morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the prevalence of bacterial co-infections and secondary infections in critically ill patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well understood yet. We performed a review of the literature currently available to examine the incidence of bacterial secondary infections acquired during hospital stay and the risk factors associated with multidrug resistance.
  • 990
  • 30 Aug 2021
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