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Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies

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A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 65361

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Francesco Inchingolo

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Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
Interests: stem cells regeneration tissue; dental disease; dental biomaterials; orthodontic diseases; orthodontic innovation; oral surgery
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Prof. Dr. Gianfranco Favia

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1. Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy
2. Department of Urgency and Emergency, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: oro-facial oncology; pathology; molecular biology; reconstructive; regenerative; implantar and laser surgery

Prof. Dr. Antonio Scarano

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Post-Graduate School of Oral Surgery, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; oral diseases; vaccines
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Prof. Dr. Gianluca M. Tartaglia

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Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry Department of Orthodontics, Università degli Studi di Milano - Fondazione IRCCS, Cà Granda, I-20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; bone regeneration; biomaterials
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Dr. Gianna Dipalma

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Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: stem cells regeneration tissue; dental disease; dental biomaterials; orthodontic diseases; orthodontic innovation; oral surgery
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Dr. Felice Lorusso

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Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: N95 respirators; surgical mask; protective face masks; COVID-19; infection control; thermal infrared imaging; atmospheric plasma technique; X-ray microanalysis; laser; dental implants
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Dr. Ioana-Roxana Bordea

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Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: oral health; laser in dentistry; laser coagulatio; laser therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

State-of-the-art knowledge in biomolecular and receptor interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and host cells has been involving to novel specific therapies to contrast the recent worldwide pandemic state. Moreover, the recent advances in treatment protocols and adjuvant supplement therapies seem to have provided a sensible increase in the clinical prognosis of the patients, as well as long-hauler subjects, affected by the severe disease. The target of these innovative approaches is oriented to increase the long-term predictability of the therapies and healing recovery of the patients affected severely by COVID-19. Therefore, the recent progress in biotechnologies and pharmacology has produced an increase in diagnostic and prevention capacity, as well as a significant decrease in the pressure on the healthcare systems correlated to the large-scale epidemic viral infection.

The present Special Issue aims to investigate the recent innovations and breakthroughs of medical and pharmacological therapies, adjuvant treatments, diagnostic and prevention protocols against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In detail, in vivo original articles, in vitro papers, finite elements and biomolecular analysis, literature reviews and clinical studies will be considered for publication in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Inchingolo
Prof. Dr. Gianfranco Favia
Prof. Dr. Antonio Scarano
Prof. Dr. Gianluca M. Tartaglia
Dr. Gianna Dipalma
Dr. Felice Lorusso
Dr. Ioana-Roxana Bordea
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 pandemic
human coronavirus
therapies
microbiome
oral mucosa
ACE2
adjuvant supplements
vaccines
diagnostic devices
vaccines
diagnostic devices
Endovir Stop spray

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 in Italy: Comparison of CT Findings from Time Zero to the Delta Variant

by Nicola Maggialetti, Ilaria Villanova, Annalisa Castrì, Chiara Noemi Greco, Francesco Inchingolo, Daniele Virgilio, Marco Moschetta, Angela Sardaro, Amato Antonio Stabile Ianora and Arnaldo Scardapane

Microorganisms 2022, 10(4), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10040796 - 09 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1932

Abstract

On 12 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel Coronavirus (CoV) disease a global Pandemic and an emerging risk. In order to understand patterns that are typical in COVID-19 pneumonia and track the evolution of the disease, the role of the chest computed tomography (CT) is pivotal. The impact of the illness as well as the efficiency of the therapy are also monitored carefully when performing this imaging exam. Coronaviruses, specifically CoV-2, as RNA viruses, have a tendency to frequently change their genome, giving the virus beneficial characteristics such as greater transmissibility, pathogenicity and the possibility to escape the previously acquired immunity. Therefore, genome evaluation became an extremely important routine practice worldwide. In particular, in Italy, four variants have been recognised and each of them represent a specific temporal wave of the disease. Hence, our goal was to describe imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia, specifically its most typical imaging identified during the period of our study, and to assess whether or not SARS-CoV-2 variants determine different CT patterns. Our analyses revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 genotype seems not to interfere with the severity of CT patterns and, in particular, bilateral Ground Glass Opacities (GGOs) are the most frequent findings in all COVID-19 waves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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12 pages, 856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endogenous Carboxyhemoglobin Level Variation in COVID-19 and Bacterial Sepsis: A Novel Approach?

by Bianca-Liana Grigorescu, Irina Săplăcan, Ioana Roxana Bordea, Marius Petrisor, Oana Coman, Claudiu Ion Puiac, Ariana Toncean and Raluca Stefania Fodor

Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020305 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2286

Abstract

Background: The increased production of carbon monoxide (CO) in sepsis has been proven, but the blood level variations of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) as a potential evolutionary parameter of COVID-19 and sepsis/septic shock have yet to be determined. This study aims to evaluate the serum level variation of COHb as a potential evolutionary parameter in COVID-19 critically ill patients and in bacterial sepsis. Materials and method: A prospective and observational study was conducted on two groups of patients: the bacterial sepsis group (n = 52) and the COVID-19 group (n = 52). We followed paraclinical parameters on Day 1 (D1) and Day 5 (D5) of sepsis/ICU admission for COVID-19 patients. Results: D1 of sepsis: statistically significant positive correlations between: COHb values and serum lactate (p = 0.024, r = 0.316), and total bilirubin (p = 0.01, r = 0.359). In D5 of sepsis: a statistically significant positive correlations between: COHb values and procalcitonin (PCT) (p = 0.038, r = 0.402), and total bilirubin (p = 0.023, r = 0.319). D1 of COVID-19 group: COHb levels were statistically significantly positively correlated with C-reactive protein CRP values (p = 0.003, r = 0.407) and with PCT values (p = 0.022, r = 0.324) and statistically significantly negatively correlated with serum lactate values (p = 0.038, r = −0.285). Conclusion: COHb variation could provide rapid information about the outcome of bacterial sepsis/septic shock, having the advantages of a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio, and availability as a point-of-care test. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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7 pages, 1366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prion-like Domains in Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Differ across Its Variants and Enable Changes in Affinity to ACE2

by George Tetz and Victor Tetz

Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020280 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 27094

Abstract

Currently, the world is struggling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Prions are proteins that possess a unique conformational conversion, with the ability to rapidly shift between multiple conformations due to residue hydrophobicity and net sequence charge, and viral prion-like proteins are known as potential regulators of viral infections. However, the prion-like domains (PrD) in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome have not been analyzed. In this in silico study, using the PLAAC algorithm, we identified the presence of prion-like domains in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Compared with other viruses, a striking difference was observed in the distribution of prion-like domains in the spike protein since SARS-CoV-2 is the only coronavirus with a prion-like domain found in the receptor-binding domain of the S1 region of the spike protein. The presence and unique distribution of prion-like domains in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domains of the spike protein are particularly interesting since although the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV S proteins share the same host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates a 10- to 20-fold higher affinity for ACE2. We identified prion-like domains in the α1 helix of the ACE2 receptor that interact with the viral receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we found substantial differences in the prion-like domain of the S1 region of the spike protein across emerging variants including Omicron (B.1.1.529). Taken together, the present findings indicate that the identified PrDs in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and ACE2 region that interact with RBD play important functional roles in viral adhesion and entry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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14 pages, 4969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural-Dynamics and Binding Analysis of RBD from SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) and GRP78 Receptor Revealed Basis for Higher Infectivity

by Abbas Khan, Anwar Mohammad, Inamul Haq, Mohammad Nasar, Waqar Ahmad, Qudsia Yousafi, Muhammad Suleman, Sajjad Ahmad, Aqel Albutti, Taimoor Khan, Sulaiman K. Marafie, Eman Alshawaf, Syed Shujait Ali, Jehad Abubaker and Dong-Qing Wei

Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2331; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112331 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2444

Abstract

Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) might be a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 to bind and enter the host cell. Recently reported mutations in the spike glycoprotein unique to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of different variants might increase the binding and pathogenesis. However, it is still not known how these mutations affect the binding of RBD to GRP78. The current study provides a structural basis for the binding of GRP78 to the different variants, i.e., B.1.1.7, B.1.351, B.1.617, and P.1 (spike RBD), of SARS-CoV-2 using a biomolecular simulation approach. Docking results showed that the new variants bound stronger than the wild-type, which was further confirmed through the free energy calculation results. All-atom simulation confirmed structural stability, which was consistent with previous results by following the global stability trend. We concluded that the increased binding affinity of the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants was due to a variation in the bonding network that helped the virus induce a higher infectivity and disease severity. Consequently, we reported that the aforementioned new variants use GRP78 as an alternate receptor to enhance their seriousness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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9 pages, 921 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Ultrasensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins Using the Thio-NAD Cycling Reaction: A Preliminary Study before Clinical Trials

by Yuta Kyosei, Mayuri Namba, Daiki Makioka, Ayumi Kokubun, Satoshi Watabe, Teruki Yoshimura, Tadahiro Sasaki, Tatsuo Shioda and Etsuro Ito

Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2214; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112214 - 25 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2590

Abstract

To help control the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we developed a diagnostic method targeting the spike protein of the virus that causes the infection, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We applied an ultrasensitive method by combining a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the thio-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (thio-NAD) cycling reaction to quantify spike S1 proteins. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.62 × 10⁻¹⁹ moles/assay for recombinant S1 proteins and 2.6 × 10⁶ RNA copies/assay for ultraviolet B-inactivated viruses. We have already shown that the ultrasensitive ELISA for nucleocapsid proteins can detect ultraviolet B-inactivated viruses at the 10⁴ RNA copies/assay level, whereas the nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are difficult to distinguish from those in conventional coronaviruses and SARS-CoV. Thus, an antigen test for only the nucleocapsid proteins is insufficient for virus specificity. Therefore, the use of a combination of tests against both spike and nucleocapsid proteins is recommended to increase both the detection sensitivity and testing accuracy of the COVID-19 antigen test. Taken together, our present study, in which we incorporate S1 detection by combining the ultrasensitive ELISA for nucleocapsid proteins, offers an ultrasensitive, antigen-specific test for COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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25 pages, 7225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immunity Profiling of COVID-19 Infection, Dynamic Variations of Lymphocyte Subsets, a Comparative Analysis on Four Different Groups

by Mario Giosuè Balzanelli, Pietro Distratis, Gianna Dipalma, Luigi Vimercati, Orazio Catucci, Felice Amatulli, Angelo Cefalo, Rita Lazzaro, Davide Palazzo, Sergey Khachatur Aityan, Giancarla Pricolo, Antonella Prudenzano, Patrizia D’Errico, Rita Laforgia, Angela Pezzolla, Diego Tomassone, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Van Hung Pham, Donatello Iacobone, Giuseppe Mancusi Materi, Antonio Scarano, Felice Lorusso, Francesco Inchingolo, Kieu Cao Diem Nguyen and Ciro Gargiulo Isacco Show full author list Hide full author list

Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102036 - 26 Sep 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3583

Abstract

Background: A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)-induced pneumonia (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 in China, spreading worldwide. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the immunological response and the clinical subset of peripheral lymphocyte subset alteration in COVID-19 infection. Methods: the study was conducted on four different clinical groups (n = 4; total n = 138). Each individual was assigned to different groups based on specific criteria evaluated at the admission such as fever, dyspnea, arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), oral-nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR, and thoracic CT-scan. Treatment was performed only after blood samples were collected from each patient (PP and PP) at day 1. The blood samples were analyzed and tested the same day (CBC and Flowcytometry). The positive–positive group (PP n = 45; F = 18/ M = 27; median age = 62.33), comprised individuals affected by COVID-19 who showed fever, dyspnea (ABG = pO2 < 60), confirmed positive by oral-nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR and with CT-scan showing ground-glass opacities. The negative–positive (NP; n = 37; F = 11/M = 26; median age = 75.94) or “COVID-like” group comprised individuals with fever and dyspnea (ABG = pO2 < 60), who tested negative to nasopharyngeal swab/RT-PCR, with CT-scans showing ground-glass opacities in the lungs. The negative–affected group (NA; n = 40; F = 14/M = 26; median age = 58.5) included individuals negative to COVID-19 (RT-PCR) but affected by different chronic respiratory diseases (the CT-scans didn’t show ground-glass opacities). Finally, the negative–negative group (NN; n = 16; F = 14/M = 2) included healthy patients (NN; n = 16; median age = 42.62). Data and findings were collected and compared. Results: Lymphocytes (%) cells showed a decline in COVID-19 patients. The subsets showed a significant association with the inflammatory status in COVID-19, especially with regard to increased neutrophils, T-killer, T-active, T-suppressor, and T-CD8+CD38+ in individuals belong to the either COVID-19 and Covid-like NP group. Conclusions: Peripheral lymphocyte subset alteration was associated with the clinical characteristics and progression of COVID-19. The level of sub-set cells T-lymphocytes (either high or low) and B-lymphocytes could be used as an independent predictor for COVID-19 severity and treatment efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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15 pages, 2635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Vitamin D, IL-6 and the eGFR Markers a Possible Way to Elucidate the Lung–Heart–Kidney Cross-Talk in COVID-19 Disease: A Foregone Conclusion

by Mario Giosuè Balzanelli, Pietro Distratis, Rita Lazzaro, Angelo Cefalo, Orazio Catucci, Sergey Khachatur Aityan, Gianna Dipalma, Luigi Vimercati, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Maria Elena Maggiore, Antonio Mancini, Luigi Santacroce, Loreto Gesualdo, Van Hung Pham, Donatello Iacobone, Maria Contaldo, Rosario Serpico, Antonio Scarano, Felice Lorusso, Tran Cong Toai, Silvio Tafuri, Giovanni Migliore, Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Kieu Cao Diem Nguyen, Francesco Inchingolo, Diego Tomassone and Ciro Gargiulo Isacco Show full author list Hide full author list

Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9091903 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4270

Abstract

Background: Based on recent findings, we speculated the existence of the lung, heart, and kidney axis as the main pathway for the COVID-19 disease progression. Methods: This paper reports on an observational study conducted by a team of researchers and doctors of the 118-Pre-Hospital and Emergency Department of SG Moscati of Taranto City in Italy. The study was conducted on a totality of 185 participants that were divided into three groups. The study group included COVID-19 affected patients (PP n = 80), the first control group included patients with different pathologies (non-COVID-19 NNp n = 62) of the SG Moscati Hospital, and the second control group included healthy individuals (NNh n = 43). The core of the current trial was focused on assessing the level of the vitamin D (serum 25(OH) D concentration), IL-6, and the renal glomerular filtrate (eGFR) in COVID-19 disease and non-COVID-19 patients in both groups. Results: It was observed that the majority of COVID-19-infected patients showed a progressive multi-organ involvement, especially in regard to the lung, kidney, and heart. The majority of the COVID-19 patients exhibited preexisting comorbidities which include cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal disorders accompanied by a severely low level of vitamin D, extremely high level of IL-6, and low glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The significant overall damages exerted by the immune-mediated responses under the hyper-expression of proinflammatory cytokines and interleukins, such as IL-6, may be facilitated by either a decreased level of vitamin D or the ageing process. The reduced presence of vitamin D was often found together with a reduced functionality of renal activity, as revealed by the low eGFR, and both were seen to be concomitant with an increased mortality risk in patients with lung disorders and heart failure (HF), whether it is showed at baseline or it develops during manifestation of COVID-19. Therefore, the documentation of the modifiable risk factors related to SARS-CoV-2 and lung impairment in older patients with kidney and heart disease may help the clinician to better manage the situation. Conclusions: This paper addresses how a low level of vitamin D and older age may be indicative of systemic worsening in patients with COVID-19, with a goal of providing a broader context in which to view a better therapeutic approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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18 pages, 742 KiB

Open AccessReview

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Expression and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

by Sarah Alabsi, Atharva Dhole, Sameh Hozayen and Scott A. Chapman

Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030612 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2270

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), first discovered in 2000, serves as an important counterregulatory enzyme to the angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstrictive, pro-inflammatory, and pro-fibrotic actions of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Conversion of angiotensin II to the peptide angiotensin 1–7 (ANG 1–7) exerts protective vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic actions through interaction with the MasR receptor. There are many important considerations when noting the role of ACE2 in the pathogenesis and sequelae of COVID-19 infection. ACE2, in the role of COVID-19 infection, was recognized early in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic as a cell membrane-bound and soluble binding site for the viral spike protein facilitating entering into tissue cells expressing ACE2, such as the lungs, heart, gut, and kidneys. Mechanisms exist that alter the magnitude of circulating and membrane-bound ACE2 (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral variants, patient characteristics, chronic disease states, and the degree of cell surface expression of ACE2) and the influence these mechanisms have on the severity of disease and associated complications (e.g., respiratory failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, acute myocarditis, acute kidney injury). Several medications alter the ACE2 receptor expression, but whether these medications can influence the course of the disease and improve outcomes is unclear. In this review, we will discuss what is known about the interrelation of SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 and the factors that may contribute to the variability of its expression and potential contributors to the severity of COVID-19 infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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19 pages, 11536 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Multifaceted COVID-19: CT Aspects of Its Atypical Pulmonary and Abdominal Manifestations and Complications in Adults and Children. A Pictorial Review

by Chiara Morelli, Mariantonietta Francavilla, Amato Antonio Stabile Ianora, Monica Cozzolino, Alessandra Gualano, Giandomenico Stellacci, Antonello Sacco, Filomenamila Lorusso, Pasquale Pedote, Michele De Ceglie and Arnaldo Scardapane

Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102037 - 26 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2832

Abstract

Our daily experience in a COVID hospital has allowed us to learn about this disease in many of its changing and unusual aspects. Some of these uncommon manifestations, however, appeared more frequently than others, giving shape to a multifaceted COVID-19 disease. This pictorial review has the aim to describe the radiological aspects of atypical presentations and of some complications of COVID-19 disease in adults and children and provide a simple guide for radiologists to become familiar with the multiform aspects of this disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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32 pages, 852 KiB

Open AccessReview

COVID-19 Infection in Children, Infants and Pregnant Subjects: An Overview of Recent Insights and Therapies

by Giuseppina Malcangi, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Luigi Santacroce, Grazia Marinelli, Antonio Mancini, Luigi Vimercati, Maria Elena Maggiore, Maria Teresa D’Oria, Denisa Hazballa, Ioana Roxana Bordea, Edit Xhajanka, Antonio Scarano, Marco Farronato, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Delia Giovanniello, Ludovica Nucci, Rosario Serpico, Gilberto Sammartino, Loredana Capozzi, Antonio Parisi, Marina Di Domenico, Felice Lorusso, Maria Contaldo, Francesco Inchingolo and Gianna Dipalma Show full author list Hide full author list

Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9091964 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4206

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has involved a severe increase of cases worldwide in a wide range of populations. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate recent insights about COVID-19 infection in children, infants and pregnant subjects. Methods: a literature overview was performed including clinical trials, in vitro studies, reviews and published guidelines regarding the present paper topic. A descriptive synthesis was performed to evaluate recent insights and the effectiveness of therapies for SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, infants and pregnant subjects. Results: Insufficient data are available regarding the relationship between COVID-19 and the clinical risk of spontaneous abortion and premature foetus death. A decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 could be correlated to a minor expression of ACE2 in childrens’ lungs. At present, a modulation of the dose-effect posology for children and infants is necessary. Conclusions: Pregnant vertical transmission has been hypothesised for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccines are necessary to achieve mass immunity for children and also pregnant subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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7 pages, 1252 KiB

Open AccessHypothesis

Sars-CoV-2 Virus Infection May Interfere CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Megakaryocyte–Erythroid Progenitors Differentiation Contributing to Platelet Defection towards Insurgence of Thrombocytopenia and Thrombophilia

by Mario Giosuè Balzanelli, Pietro Distratis, Gianna Dipalma, Luigi Vimercati, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Rita Lazzaro, Sergey Khachatur Aityan, Maria Elena Maggiore, Antonio Mancini, Rita Laforgia, Angela Pezzolla, Diego Tomassone, Van Hung Pham, Donatello Iacobone, Annalisa Castrignano, Antonio Scarano, Felice Lorusso, Silvio Tafuri, Giovanni Migliore, Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Kieu Cao Diem Nguyen, Tran Cong Toai, Francesco Inchingolo and Ciro Gargiulo Isacco Show full author list Hide full author list

Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081632 - 30 Jul 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 9433

Abstract

To date, several cases of thrombosis have been confirmed to be related to Sars-CoV-2 infection. Multiple attempts detected the prolonged occurrence of Sars-CoV-2 viral RNA (long COVID) in whole blood suggesting that virus byproducts may remain within cells and tissues well over the disease has finished. Patients may develop severe thrombocytopenia, acute anemia of inflammation and, systemic thrombosis with the fatal course of disease, which is suggestive of further interferences of Sars-CoV-2 on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) within the differentiation process towards erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. Therefore, we speculated whether Sars-CoV-2 propagates in or compartmentalizes with hematopoietic progenitor, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells as the main cause of thrombotic events in either COVID-19 patients or vaccinated individuals. Results: The Sars-CoV-2 RNA replication, protein translation and infectious particle formation as the spike proteins in hematopoietic cell lines take place via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) entry pathway within primary CD34⁺ HSCs inducing, ex vivo, the formation of defected erythroid and megakaryocytic cells that eventually become targets of humoral and adaptive immune cells. Conclusions: Viral particles from affected CD34⁺ HSCs or the cellular component of RBC units and eventually platelets, present the greatest risk for sever thrombosis-transmitted Sars-CoV-2 infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in COVID-19 Receptor, Interaction, Biological Dynamic and Innovative Therapies)

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