SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19 update: DRF, Potential Therapeutic Avenues & Nanotechnological tools

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An overview of COVID-19 was described in the first book chapter, including the origin and reservoir of SARS-CoV-2, major events of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the case fatality rate of COVID-19. The emergence of genomic mutations in deadly SARS-CoV-2 led to the evolution of many variants of concern that differ in their transmissibility effects affecting public health globally. Hence, deep insights regarding the structure and functions of all the components of SARS-CoV-2 are needed to be further studied and evaluated. Regarding this, SARS-CoV-2, virology, especially genome, was discussed in detail in the second book chapter. The COVID-19 infection starts with the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the targeted host cell, which involves a mechanistic process. So, the third book chapter reviewed the different entryways of SARS-CoV-2 and the key role of host enzymes TMPRSS2 and Furin associated in it. Epidemiological studies investigate the factors behind disease outbreaks' root causes and effects and offer problem-solving control methods. Hence, the fourth book chapter describes the life cycle, transmissibility, mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prevention of COVID-19. A specific emphasis should be made on studying COVID-19's viral etiology and pathophysiology, which is crucial for better customizing and creating new or repurposed drug treatments and effective vaccines. In the case of COVID-19, etiological studies are helpful in determining the factors causing illness. Therefore, this fifth book chapter summarized the COVID-19 etiology, the innate and adaptive host immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, and cytokine storm syndrome. Damage response framework (DRF) provides a lens to understand the outcome of the interaction between the host and SARS-CoV-2 and how the potential therapies could alter the disease's outcome, i.e., host damage. Hence, the sixth book chapter explains different COVID-19 pathogenesis pathways through DRF approach. Repurposing drugs and potential benefits of nanomedicine for COVID-19 therapy discussed in this book might help researchers to find a targeted lead candidate drug and formulate a promising targeted medicine against SARS-CoV-2 and for other human coronaviruses too. So, the seventh book chapter summarized the various repurposed drugs and potent chemical and herbal agents as possible new therapeutic avenues to warfare against COVID-19. For immunopathogenic diseases like COVID-19 infection, immunotherapy suits well and aids in enhancing the body's immune system. Therefore, the eighth book chapter was reviewed in addressing the current findings in immunotherapy against COVID-19 such as current investigational candidates of natural immunomodulators, convalescent plasma therapy, monoclonal antibodies therapy, IFN therapy, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Nanotechnology-based tools circumvented the challenges in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many diseases. So, in this book, a nanomedicine proposal was brought up for dealing with some of the COVID-19 major challenges in practical ways. The ninth book chapter focused on the development of possible potent targeted therapeutic nano-formulations that might give promising potential benefits in COVID-19 therapy. Vaccines are life-saving immune biologicals. Getting vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines will decrease the serious condition and fatality risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Hence, the tenth book chapter reviewed the various vaccine approaches, ongoing (clinical trials) and approved vaccine candidates for COVID-19. Some Phyto-phytopharmaceuticals have immunomodulatory properties but possess certain limitations. Therefore, in the eleventh chapter, a proposal was brought up regarding the phospholipid complexation technique coupled with 3D printing technology to surmount the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical hurdles to scale up the use of phytopharmaceuticals with desirable immunomodulatory potential.

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