Investigating Virological, Immunological, and Pathological Avenues to Identify Potential Targets for Developing COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Zafar Mahmood; Hani Alrefai; Helal F Hetta; Hidaya A Kader; Nayla Munawar; Sheikh Abdul Rahman; Shereen Elshaer; Gaber Ei-Saber Batiha; Khalid Muhammad

doi:10.3390/vaccines8030443

Investigating Virological, Immunological, and Pathological Avenues to Identify Potential Targets for Developing COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Vaccines (Basel). 2020 Aug 6;8(3):443. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030443.

Authors

Zafar Mahmood¹, Hani Alrefai^{2

3}, Helal F Hetta^{2

4}, Hidaya A Kader⁵, Nayla Munawar⁶, Sheikh Abdul Rahman⁷, Shereen Elshaer^{8

9}, Gaber Ei-Saber Batiha¹⁰, Khalid Muhammad⁵

Affiliations

¹ Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
² Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0595, USA.
³ Medical Biochemistry Department, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE.
⁷ Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Centre, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
⁸ Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026, USA.
⁹ Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicines, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging coronavirus causing respiratory disease commonly known as COVID-19. This novel coronavirus transmits from human to human and has caused profound morbidity and mortality worldwide leading to the ongoing pandemic. Moreover, disease severity differs considerably from individual to individual. Investigating the virology of COVID-19 and immunological pathways underlying its clinical manifestations will enable the identification and design of effective vaccines and potential therapies. In this review, we explore COVID-19 virology, the contribution of the immune system (innate and adaptive) during infection and control of the virus. Finally, we highlight vaccine development and implications of immune system modulation for potential therapeutic interventions to design better therapeutic strategies to guide future cure.

Keywords: B cells; COVID-19; T cells; vaccine development.

Publication types

Review