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
COVID 19 and Complement System
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has claimed over one million lives worldwide since December 2019. The complement system, while a first-line immune defense against invading pathogens, has off-target effects that lead to increases in inflammation, tissue damage, and thrombosis; these are common, life-threatening complications seen in patients with COVID-19. The potential impact of complement activation in COVID-19 and possible treatments targeting the complement system are discussed.
  • 1.1K
  • 07 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Plaque Psoriasis and COVID-19
There is no evidence to support the idea that patients receiving systemic therapy (i.e. immunosuppressive/ immunomodulating agents) should stop their treatment in order to prevent COVID-19 infection. People with psoriasis undergoing systemic therapy should be advised to follow current guidelines for hygiene and physical distancing as recommended in their respective area of residence. Chronic plaque psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–3% of the general population. In case of moderate to severe psoriasis patients are candidate to systemic treatments that have immunosuppressive/immunomodulating properties. 
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Viral Vectored Vaccines
Viral Vectored Vaccines are vaccines that use a viral vector as a carrier to deliver a protein (or antigen) from a pathogen (namely viruses and bacteria) in order to elicit an immune response against this pathogen.  The DNA or RNA sequence for this protein antigen is inserted into the genome of the virus vector. The resultant recombinant virus expresses the necessary components of the viral vector so that functional virus particles can be made to express the foreign protein antigen.  Viral vectored vaccines are classified by the virus vector they use and whether they can reproduce inside cells to produce new virus particles (i.e., are replication competent) or whether they can only enter cells but do not produce new virus particles (i.e., are replication incompetent or single-cycle replication).  Different viral vector backbones can serve different needs for developing preventive and therapeutic vaccines depending on the context and diseases they aim to prevent or treat, respectively.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Dec 2020
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
Morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are due in large part to severe cytokine storm and hypercoagulable state brought on by dysregulated host-inflammatory immune response, ultimately leading to multi-organ failure. Exacerbated oxidative stress caused by increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) along with decreased levels of interferon α and interferon β (IFN-α, IFN-β) are mainly believed to drive the disease process. Based on the evidence attesting to the ability of glutathione (GSH) to inhibit viral replication and decrease levels of IL-6 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as beneficial effects of GSH on other pulmonary diseases processes, we believe the use of liposomal GSH could be beneficial in COVID-19 patients.
  • 2.7K
  • 25 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Lectin Protein
Lectins are natural proteins with the ability to bind specific carbohydrates related to various microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Lectins have the ability to agglutinate and neutralize these pathogeneses. The delivery of the encapsulated antiviral agents or vaccines across the cell membrane can be possible by functionalized micellar and liposomal formulations. 
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Apr 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 and University Degree Programs
COVID-19, caused by a member of the coronavirus family of viruses, has spread to most countries around the world since it was first recorded in humans in China in late 2019. Closing universities and cancelling all face-to-face activities have become a COVID-19 inevitable reality in many parts of the world. Its impact on university programs, particularly to maintain academic standards and quality assurance procedures, has become significantly more challenging and complex. New ways of working digitally, to minimize disruption to daily operations, have also led to enormous anxiety and uncertainty within the student population, and meeting students’ expectations has also become significantly more difficult. 
  • 1.2K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Host Immune System Interaction
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is characterized by variable clinical presentation that ranges from asymptomatic to fatal multi-organ damage. The site of entry and the response of the host to the infection aect the outcomes. The role of the upper airways and the nasal barrier in the prevention of infection is increasingly being recognized. Besides the epithelial lining and the local immune system, the upper airways harbor a community of microorganisms, or microbiota, that takes an active part in mucosal homeostasis and in resistance to infection. However, the role of the upper airway microbiota in COVID-19 is not yet completely understood and likely goes beyond protection from viral entry to include the regulation of the immune response to the infection. Herein, we discuss the hypothesis that restoring endogenous barriers and anti-inflammatory pathways that are defective in COVID-19 patients might represent a valid strategy to reduce infectivity and ameliorate clinical symptomatology.
  • 999
  • 16 Dec 2020
Topic Review
University Programmes during COVID-19 Pandemic
Within the physical sciences and other STEM-based disciplines, the need for physical, laboratory-based practical activities is essential to complement the more theoretical content associated with learning a subject. This entry reviews the transition from traditional to online/e-delivery that could be realised by educational providers when seeking to limit the spread of infection associated with viral pandemics (such as Covid-19), whilst remaining cognisant of the ability to retain a quality student learning experience and continue to achieve programme learning outcomes.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Feb 2021
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Safety
Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection requires a solid first line of innate immunity defense, namely release of interferon-alpha and beta, which interfere with viral replication.  These critical defense factors are produced upon encounter of the RNA of the virus that succeeded in host cell invasion with the cytoplasmic innate immunity receptors, notably retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-1).  A second line of defense would be the host generation of neutralizing and opsonic antibodies capable of preventing virus entry and virus spread, respectively.  We need to avoid or dampen host generation of powerful cytotoxic T cells, which lead to destruction of the host heart, lung, kidney, and small intestine cells presenting the viral peptides on their surface membrane, and potential organ failure and destruction.  We herein wish to demonstrate that the vaccine should be based uniquely on SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein subunit 1 polypeptide, because that subunit is released upon virus invasion, and does not penetrate host critical cells in the heart, lung, liver, kidney and small intestine.  Differently from all other viral peptides, subunit 1 peptides are not readily processed for presentation on the surface of the host structural cells, rendering them targets for the destructive action of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.  
  • 1.0K
  • 14 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Dental Radiology and COVID-19
In the era of COVID-19, it is necessary to practice all possible measures in the clinical practice that prevents disease transmission. Dentistry bears a higher risk of cross-contamination as it deals with saliva- a potent disease-transmitting agent. Dental radiology setup is no exception, as saliva contamination is equally present here. We should undertake the following measures in order to have a safe working environment: 1. Strict adherence to routine infection control measures. 2. Preference should be given to the extra-oral projection techniques.  3. Ensure proper ventilation of the operator room.  4. Dooning and doffing of the PPE in a separate room. 5. Proper disinfection and implementation of fallout period. 6. Preferably digital radiography and tele-radiography 
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Dec 2020
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