We humans have to be ever on alert to combat new, as yet unknown pathogens. That is why WHO, the World Health Organisation included Disease X in its list of most dreaded pandemics. There was a brief explanation along side which read: " Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease, and so the R&D Blueprint explicitly seeks to enable cross-cutting R&D preparedness that is also relevant for an unknown “Disease X” as far as possible. WHO has officially named the virus responsible for the current viral outbreak in China as COVID-19, (short for Corona Virus Disease 2019). Is this the much dreaded Disease X? Opinions differ on this point.
Forewarned is indeed good, but that doesn't make us exactly forearmed. How do we design weapons against an unknown pathogen? In an answer to this question a global collective has been formed called CEPI( Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation). Registered in Oslo, Norway CEPI is an independent organization which will facilitate collaboration among medical doctors and researchers. A non-profit organization, CEPI will work closely with WHO to speed up remedies for pandemics. CEPI's ambitious plan is to build on the existing knowledge and reduce the time span from gene sequencing of the virus to clinical testing of the vaccine to 16 weeks. A tough task indeed given the fact that it usually takes years to develop vaccines.
The genetic map of the COVID-19 virus , a single stranded RNA of 29674 bases has been decoded. Scientists have also modelled its three dimensional folding pattern and identified possible niches where a drug molecule can bind and thus prevent the virus from replicating. Currently several drugs Flavipiravir, an antiviral drug proved efficient against a variety of viral infections and Remdesivir proven efficient against MERS and SARS in animals are in the pipeline. In the meantime, China has adopted a multiprong approach to fight the disease. From HIV drugs and stem cells to ancient and traditional Chinese medicines are being tested as possible drugs. WHO authorities are making sure that strict protocols are followed in each trial. Some of the results are indicative but not yet proven.
But the gravest question is what if the virus is susceptible to frequent mutations? So far the virus hasn't exhibited any such tendency. But doctors and scientists are ever on the alert.
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| Hemagglutin spikes on the viral particle(blue) latching on to host cell membrane(pink) |
Forewarned is indeed good, but that doesn't make us exactly forearmed. How do we design weapons against an unknown pathogen? In an answer to this question a global collective has been formed called CEPI( Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation). Registered in Oslo, Norway CEPI is an independent organization which will facilitate collaboration among medical doctors and researchers. A non-profit organization, CEPI will work closely with WHO to speed up remedies for pandemics. CEPI's ambitious plan is to build on the existing knowledge and reduce the time span from gene sequencing of the virus to clinical testing of the vaccine to 16 weeks. A tough task indeed given the fact that it usually takes years to develop vaccines.
The genetic map of the COVID-19 virus , a single stranded RNA of 29674 bases has been decoded. Scientists have also modelled its three dimensional folding pattern and identified possible niches where a drug molecule can bind and thus prevent the virus from replicating. Currently several drugs Flavipiravir, an antiviral drug proved efficient against a variety of viral infections and Remdesivir proven efficient against MERS and SARS in animals are in the pipeline. In the meantime, China has adopted a multiprong approach to fight the disease. From HIV drugs and stem cells to ancient and traditional Chinese medicines are being tested as possible drugs. WHO authorities are making sure that strict protocols are followed in each trial. Some of the results are indicative but not yet proven.
But the gravest question is what if the virus is susceptible to frequent mutations? So far the virus hasn't exhibited any such tendency. But doctors and scientists are ever on the alert.
References:
1. Prioritizing diseases for research and development in emergency context
2.Therapeutic options for the the 2019 novel coronavirus
3. The road to a coronavirus vaccine runs through Oslo
4. More than 80 clinical trials launch to test coronavirus treatments
5. US begins trial of Gilead' Remdesivir in Covid-19 patients
2.Therapeutic options for the the 2019 novel coronavirus
3. The road to a coronavirus vaccine runs through Oslo
4. More than 80 clinical trials launch to test coronavirus treatments
5. US begins trial of Gilead' Remdesivir in Covid-19 patients
