Current Coronavirus Disease Research Articles

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among the General Adult Population in Saudi Arabia Based on the Health Belief Model: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundMany studies have been conducted worldwide and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to assess the factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. However, only some of these studies have adopted the Health Belief Model (HBM). This study aimed to assess the demographic characteristics and socio-psychological variables affecting the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among the general adult population in the KSA using the basic elements of the HBM.MethodsA cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted. A Google Form questionnaire comprising 30 questions was distributed electronically using social media platforms. A univariate analysis using chi-square testing identified candidate variables for the multivariate logistic regression at a p-value of <.05 at 95% confidence interval (CI) set as a cut-off point. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between multiple predictor variables and the dichotomized COVID-19 vaccine acceptance variable.ResultsA total of 1939 individuals participated in the current study. More than 73% were willing to take the vaccine, while the rest were either not willing (14.6%) or not sure (12.1%). The results showed that men were 1.29 times more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women (odds ratio, or OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.01-1.64, p = .04); those who were or had been a healthcare worker (HCW) were 1.43 times more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine compared with those who had never been a HCW (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.10-1.87, p = .01). We found that perceiving the risk of contracting COVID-19 (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.47-5.55, p = .00) and perceiving the severity of the disease (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.08-3.96, p = .03) were positively associated with the willingness to receive the vaccine. Perceived barriers such as ineffectiveness of the vaccine (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.18-0.44, p < .001), or believing the vaccine is just a media advertisement (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35-0.87, p = .01) were negative predictors of acceptance of the vaccine. Moreover, perceiving the benefits, such as life going back to normal (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.37-3.77, p = .00) and recognizing the importance of the annual flu vaccine (OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 2.29-5.14, p < .001), were found to be positive predictors of acceptance of the vaccine. Finally, we also found that cues to action were positively associated with vaccine acceptance, that is, participants who were encouraged by their doctors (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.17-2.60, p = .01), and family members or friends (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.94-4.32, p < .001) were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than those who were not.ConclusionsThe current study provides valuable insights into the determinants of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy based on the HBM from a cognitive perspective. This could be useful in helping the government establish public health programs aimed at addressing barriers and false beliefs among the adult population, which could enhance the public’s willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines and, ultimately, accelerate achieving herd immunity.

Plant-derived compounds effectively inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2: An in silico approach.

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), involves severe acute respiratory syndrome and poses unprecedented challenges to global health. Structure-based drug design techniques have been developed targeting the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2, responsible for viral replication and transcription, to rapidly identify effective inhibitors and therapeutic targets. Herein, we constructed a phytochemical dataset of 1154 compounds using deep literature mining and explored their potential to bind with and inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The three most effective phytochemicals Cosmosiine, Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, and Cleomiscosin A had binding energies of -8.4, -8.4, and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively, in the docking analysis. These molecules could bind to Gln189, Glu166, Cys145, His41, and Met165 residues on the active site of the targeted protein, leading to specific inhibition. The pharmacological characteristics and toxicity of these compounds, examined using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analyses, revealed no carcinogenicity or toxicity. Furthermore, the complexes were simulated with molecular dynamics for 100 ns to calculate the root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), and hydrogen profiles from the simulation trajectories. Our analysis validated the rigidity of the docked protein-ligand. Taken together, our computational study findings might help develop potential drugs to combat the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 and help alleviate the severity of the pandemic.

Penggunaan Kinemaster dan Quizziz dalam Pembelajaran Fisika untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Siswa

This study aims to improve student learning outcomes using the Kinemaster and Quizziz applications using classroom action research methodology. In the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic situation and the very rapid development of ICT, learning physics using the Kinemaster and Quizziz applications can be one of the learning media that can be used in the teaching and learning process of physics to improve student learning outcomes by creating a pleasant learning atmosphere. This study uses the Class Action Research (CAR) method for students of class X MIPA II SMA Negeri 2 Langowan. With the number of students 19 people. The results of the evaluation of teaching and learning activities at the stage of the first cycle showed the value of classical X MIPA II students' learning outcomes that was 100%, where there was only 1 student whose learning outcomes were categorized as moderate, 8 students whose learning outcomes were categorized as high and 10 students whose learning outcomes were categorized very high. The results of the research obtained in the learning process using the Kinemaster and Quizziz applications on the material of straight motion can improve the learning outcomes of students of class X MIPA II at SMA Negeri 2 Langowan.

The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Stress on Reproductive-Age Women's Menstrual Cycle Regularity

Intense stress resulting from major life events can affect women's menstrual cycle. The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, impacting various sectors, is considered a major form of stress. During May-November 2020, some women in Iraq have experienced menstrual disruptions, which can happen whether they get infected with the COVID-19 or simply deals with pandemic-induced stress. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced stress on menstrual cycle regularity of reproductive-age women. This study used an observational cross-sectional design conducted in Iraq from May to November 2020. A sample of 500 reproductive-age women filled out an online questionnaire about their menstrual records and psychological stress levels using a Perceived Stress Scale-10 for three months during the pandemic. A comparison between menstrual cycle irregularity and stress levels before and during the pandemic was done with a p-value of &lt;0.05 and statistically significant. It was found that 47.72% of women had irregular menstrual cycles and high perceived stress scales during the pandemic compared to 20.94% with irregular cycles and high-stress levels before the pandemic. In brief, the high-stress level induced by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with the irregular menstrual cycle in the sampled reproductive-age women.

Credit risk interdependence in global financial markets: Evidence from three regions using multiple and partial wavelet approaches

Credit risk linkage has primarily been examined from the lens of developed country markets and using volatility index. In this paper, we investigate the interconnectedness and causality among the global financial market risks during crisis periods, using partial and multiple wavelet coherence analysis. Specifically, we employ financial sector credit default swap indices from three regions (Asia, North America, and Europe) from January 2008 to June 2021 as a proxy for risk in the financial industry. The sample period includes three global crises, namely the 2008 global financial crisis, the European debt crisis, and the current coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic. Our findings can be summarized as follows. First, credit risks in global financial markets are highly connected across the three regions. However, if the impact of a particular region is not considered, the other two regions become less connected in terms of credit risk. Second, considerable interactions among the credit risk of financial industries in the three regions occur during crisis periods. Third, significant relationships between credit risks in Asia and North America ensue in the long-term, which is independent of the European region. Our findings provide significant implications for financial market participants, as the credit risk transmission can directly affect not only financial market stability but also portfolio risk exposure.

Mechanism of selenomethionine inhibiting of PDCoV replication in LLC-PK1 cells based on STAT3/miR-125b-5p-1/HK2 signaling.

There are no licensed therapeutics or vaccines available against porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) to eliminate its potential for congenital disease. In the absence of effective treatments, it has led to significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. Similar to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, PDCoV is trans-species transmissible and there is still a large desert for scientific exploration. We have reported that selenomethionine (SeMet) has potent antiviral activity against PDCoV. Here, we systematically investigated the endogenous immune mechanism of SeMet and found that STAT3/miR-125b-5p-1/HK2 signalling is essential for the exertion of SeMet anti-PDCoV replication function. Meanwhile, HK2, a key rate-limiting enzyme of the glycolytic pathway, was able to control PDCoV replication in LLC-PK1 cells, suggesting a strategy for viruses to evade innate immunity using glucose metabolism pathways. Overall, based on the ability of selenomethionine to control PDCoV infection and transmission, we provide a molecular basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches.

HIV infection does not affect the risk of death of COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.

BackgroundEven during the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to pose a major threat, worldwide. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined the HIV infection as a risk factor for both severe COVID-19, at hospital admission, and in-hospital mortality. Despite this evidence, however, there remains the need for investigating whether SARS-CoV-2 infection could increase the risk of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of death among PLHIV and HIV- seronegative people.MethodsThe literature search was carried out on PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases, from the inception to February 2022. Epidemiological studies on patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which compared the proportion of deaths between PLHIV and HIV-seronegative people, were considered eligible for the inclusion. The pooled odds ratio (OR) was obtained through meta-analysis of the comparison between PLHIV and HIV-seronegative people. Study quality was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment.ResultsOn a total of 1001 records obtained from the literature search, the present systematic review and meta-analysis included 28 studies on 168 531 PLHIV and 66 712 091 HIV-seronegative patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The meta-analysis showed no difference in the risk of death between PLHIV and HIV-seronegative patients (OR = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93-1.26; P > 0.001). However, a significant heterogeneity was found for this comparison (I2 = 88.8%, P < 0.001).ConclusionsAlthough our meta-analysis suggests no difference in the risk of death of PLHIV with SARS-CoV-2 infection, if compared with HIV-seronegative patients, further research should be encouraged to improve the current knowledge about the impact of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection.

In vitro high-content tissue models to address precision medicine challenges.

The field of precision medicine allows for tailor-made treatments specific to a patient and thereby improve the efficiency and accuracy of disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and at the same time would reduce the cost, redundant treatment, and side effects of current treatments. Here, the combination of organ-on-a-chip and bioprinting into engineering high-content in vitro tissue models is envisioned to address some precision medicine challenges. This strategy could be employed to tackle the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has made a significant impact and paradigm shift in our society. Nevertheless, despite that vaccines against COVID-19 have been successfully developed and vaccination programs are already being deployed worldwide, it will likely require some time before it is available to everyone. Furthermore, there are still some uncertainties and lack of a full understanding of the virus as demonstrated in the high number new mutations arising worldwide and reinfections of already vaccinated individuals. To this end, efficient diagnostic tools and treatments are still urgently needed. In this context, the convergence of bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip technologies, either used alone or in combination, could possibly function as a prominent tool in addressing the current pandemic. This could enable facile advances of important tools, diagnostics, and better physiologically representative in vitro models specific to individuals allowing for faster and more accurate screening of therapeutics evaluating their efficacy and toxicity. This review will cover such technological advances and highlight what is needed for the field to mature for tackling the various needs for current and future pandemics as well as their relevancy towards precision medicine.

Diagnostic Approaches For COVID-19: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a transmitted respiratory disease caused by the infection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although humankind has experienced several outbreaks of infectious diseases, the COVID-19 pandemic has the highest rate of infection and has had high levels of social and economic repercussions. The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the limitations of existing virological tests, which have failed to be adopted at a rate to properly slow the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2. Pandemic preparedness has developed as a focus of many governments around the world in the event of a future outbreak. Despite the largely widespread availability of vaccines, the importance of testing has not diminished to monitor the evolution of the virus and the resulting stages of the pandemic. Therefore, developing diagnostic technology that serves as a line of defense has become imperative. In particular, that test should satisfy three criteria to be widely adopted: simplicity, economic feasibility, and accessibility. At the heart of it all, it must enable early diagnosis in the course of infection to reduce spread. However, diagnostic manufacturers need guidance on the optimal characteristics of a virological test to ensure pandemic preparedness and to aid in the effective treatment of viral infections. Nanomaterials are a decisive element in developing COVID-19 diagnostic kits as well as a key contributor to enhance the performance of existing tests. Our objective is to develop a profile of the criteria that should be available in a platform as the target product. In this work, virus detection tests were evaluated from the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then we generalized the requirements to develop a target product profile for a platform for virus detection.

Is ultraviolet Radiation a Confounding Variable for COVID-19 in India?

The current global Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic due to its contagion nature and rapid spread throughout the world. The pandemic caused a lockdown resulting in a large decline in the level of anthropogenic emissions of tiny aerosol particles that altered the solar irradiance and decreased the quantity of aerosol, which opposes global warming. This study first demonstrates that surface ultraviolet radiation (UV) increased significantly during the lockdown period in four major Indian mega cities, whose magnitude varies based on city demography. Results shows that the correlation between the high rate of increase in Ultraviolet irradiance (UV-irradiance) on mortality and morbidity. Although there are numerous confounding factors for the pandemic, UV-irradiance could be one of the factors supporting the hypothesis that increased solar UV dose may increase rate of disinfection as radiation warps the structure of genetic material of the virus and deactivates it. Another factor which also have potential to add up increase of Vitamin D3 production per minute of exposure due to UV-irradiance resulting in an increased human immune system to fight COVID-19 more effectively. However, it is cautioned here that a high dose of direct UV exposure to humans may be fatal leading to skin damage and melanoma cancer. Hence, the harmful impact of UV-Irradiance on the human body and its application to possible disinfectant to virus deactivation should be understood in a proper perspective.

Is ultraviolet Radiation a Confounding Variable for COVID-19 in India?

The current global Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic due to its contagion nature and rapid spread throughout the world. The pandemic caused a lockdown resulting in a large decline in the level of anthropogenic emissions of tiny aerosol particles that altered the solar irradiance and decreased the quantity of aerosol, which opposes global warming. This study first demonstrates that surface ultraviolet radiation (UV) increased significantly during the lockdown period in four major Indian mega cities, whose magnitude varies based on city demography. Results shows that the correlation between the high rate of increase in Ultraviolet irradiance (UV-irradiance) on mortality and morbidity. Although there are numerous confounding factors for the pandemic, UV-irradiance could be one of the factors supporting the hypothesis that increased solar UV dose may increase rate of disinfection as radiation warps the structure of genetic material of the virus and deactivates it. Another factor which also have potential to add up increase of Vitamin D3 production per minute of exposure due to UV-irradiance resulting in an increased human immune system to fight COVID-19 more effectively. However, it is cautioned here that a high dose of direct UV exposure to humans may be fatal leading to skin damage and melanoma cancer. Hence, the harmful impact of UV-Irradiance on the human body and its application to possible disinfectant to virus deactivation should be understood in a proper perspective.

Robust antiviral activity of commonly prescribed antidepressants against emerging coronaviruses: in vitro and in silico drug repurposing studies

During the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, symptoms of depression are commonly documented among both symptomatic and asymptomatic quarantined COVID-19 patients. Despite that many of the FDA-approved drugs have been showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro and remarkable efficacy against COVID-19 in clinical trials, no pharmaceutical products have yet been declared to be fully effective for treating COVID-19. Antidepressants comprise five major drug classes for the treatment of depression, neuralgia, migraine prophylaxis, and eating disorders which are frequently reported symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Herein, the efficacy of eight frequently prescribed FDA-approved antidepressants on the inhibition of both SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV was assessed. Additionally, the in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-MERS-CoV activities were evaluated. Furthermore, molecular docking studies have been performed for these drugs against the spike (S) and main protease (Mpro) pockets of both SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. Results showed that Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Paroxetine, and Sertraline had potential anti-viral activities. Our findings suggested that the aforementioned drugs deserve more in vitro and in vivo studies targeting COVID-19 especially for those patients suffering from depression.

An Overview of Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring of Drugs and Vaccines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Once a drug is approved in phase III of clinical trials, pharmacovigilance (PV) becomes very important for the surveillance of drug, vaccine or medical devices. PV constitutes part of the phase IV approval, which involves a study for collecting, detecting, and monitoring adverse events in any population that the drug is used. The adverse events that are reported must be assessed to ascertain the causal effects and prevent or avoid unanticipated side effects on the population. With the advent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccination has been the motor for the management of the pandemic, and through intensive health sensitization, more people are vaccinated in a short period leading to greater challenges to the PV taskforce and the PV operating centrers. Global partnerships including the international society of pharmacovigilance (ISOP), the French national agency for medicines and health products safety (ANSM), and a multitude of others are working in synergy towards putting in place a continuous collaboration work package with many sensitization, education, capacity building, and research initiatives. This is within the framework of identifying the safety and efficacy of vaccines in order to provide solutions to emerging challenging ethical questions.&#x0D; Through PV, signal detection is in progress for the identification of adverse events. The unanticipated emergence and negative impact of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has significantly compelled global pharmacists and drug actors to collectively play an important role in the management of COVID-19. This has to be done within the framework of therapeutic strategies and guaranteed safety, efficacy and quality of new and old xenobiotics. In the current treatment COVID-19 has created health-related challenges and a shift in paradigm in drug discovery and development of new chemical entities (NCE), for vaccine or drug repurposing for different levels of treatment interventions. The accelerated interest in dynamic research and innovation have led to different approaches of treatment and this has come with potential side effects, which has led to the call for post marketing surveillance and monitory. PV is therefore a key component for phase IV study for the drugs and vaccines approved for global use. This paper gives an insight into the global PV monitoring and surveillance of new chemical entities (drugs and vaccines) and new technologies targeting the management of COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 S2-targeted vaccination elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Several variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although antibody cross-reactivity with the spike glycoproteins (S) of diverse coronaviruses, including endemic common cold coronaviruses (HCoVs), has been documented, it remains unclear whether such antibody responses, typically targeting the conserved S2 subunit, contribute to protection when induced by infection or through vaccination. Using a mouse model, we found that prior HCoV-OC43 S-targeted immunity primes neutralizing antibody responses to otherwise subimmunogenic SARS-CoV-2 S exposure and promotes S2-targeting antibody responses. Moreover, vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 S2 elicited antibodies in mice that neutralized diverse animal and human alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses in vitro and provided a degree of protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in vivo. Last, in mice with a history of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-based S vaccination, further S2 vaccination induced broader neutralizing antibody response than booster Wuhan S vaccination, suggesting that it may prevent repertoire focusing caused by repeated homologous vaccination. These data establish the protective value of an S2-targeting vaccine and support the notion that S2 vaccination may better prepare the immune system to respond to the changing nature of the S1 subunit in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, as well as to future coronavirus zoonoses.

Evaluating the Effect of a Natural Formulation Based on Hordeum Vulgare on the Recovery of COVID-19 Patients: Application of Survival Analysis in a Clinical Trial

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the lives of people all over the world. Although researchers are working to manage and minimize the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, no definitive treatment method has been identified so far. The present clinical trial aimed to evaluate the survival of two groups of patients with COVID-19. Methods: The statistical population of this prospective clinical trial included 70 patients hospitalized in the Mofatteh Hospital in Varamin, Iran, from 13 May to 10 July 2020. The intervention and control groups were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results: Patients in the intervention group had a higher survival rate than the control group. Conclusion: Hordeum vulgare increased the survival of patients.

Does herding behavior explain the contagion of the COVID-19 crisis?

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to investigate the pandemic’s function as a driver of investor herding in international stock markets, given that the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has caused a large rise in uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigates the presence of herding behavior among the developed and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) stock market indices during the COVID-19 crisis, by using a modified Cross-Sectional Absolute Deviation (CSAD) measure which is considered a proxy for herding and the wavelet coherence (WC) analysis between CSAD that captures the different inter-linkages between stock markets.FindingsUsing the CSAD model, the authors' findings indicate that the herding behavior of investors is present in stock markets during the four waves of COVID-19 crisis. The results also demonstrate that the transaction volume improve the herding behavior in the stock markets. As for the news concerning the number of cases caused by the pandemic, the results show that the pandemic does not stimulate herding; however, the number of deaths caused by this pandemic turns out to be a great stimulator of herding. By using the WC analysis, the authors' findings indicate the presence of herding behavior between the Chinese and stock markets (developed and emerging), especially during the first wave of the crisis and the presence of herding behavior between the Indian and stock markets (developed and emerging) in the medium and long run, especially during the third wave of the COVID-19 crisis.Originality/valueThe authors' study is among the first that examines the influence of the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a stimulator of herding behavior between stock markets. The study also uses the WC analysis next to the CSAD model to obtain robust results. The authors' results are consistent with the mental bias of behavioral finance where herding behavior is considered effective in volatility predictions and decision-making for international investors, specifically during the COVID-19 crisis.

Decay of coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA vaccine-induced immunity in people with HIV.

Current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines induce robust SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular responses in people with HIV (PWH). However, the rate of decay of effector immune responses has not been studied in these individuals. Here, we report a significant waning of antibody responses but persistent T-cell responses 6 months post vaccination in virally suppressed PWH with high CD4+ T-cell counts. These responses are comparable with those seen in healthy donors.

Updated International Society of Geriatric Oncology COVID-19 working group recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination among older adults with cancer

Updated International Society of Geriatric Oncology COVID-19 working group recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination among older adults with cancer

The Complexity in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Symptoms in Electronic Cigarette Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The issue with the overlapping clinical symptoms from an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sometimes leads to incorrect diagnosis and, consequently, wrong treatment regimen. The purpose of this review is to study the burden of vaping-associated health consequences on the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in young adults and adolescents with a misconception of e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking. The online reference databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Medline, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were used in the literature search, as we analyzed the complexity of timely diagnosis and treatment in the current COVID-19 era with the use of e-cigarettes. This study briefly describes the dysbiosis of the oral microbiome in e-cigarette users that could potentially aggravate the COVID-19 symptoms and lead to the complexity of timely diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the patient case reports with a history of vaping and symptoms similar to COVID-19 disease are reviewed.

Selection of Bis-Indolyl Pyridines and Triphenylamines as New Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Cellular Entry by Modulating the Spike Protein/ACE2 Interfaces.

ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the infectious agent that has caused the current coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic. Viral infection relies on the viral S (spike) protein/cellular receptor ACE2 interaction. Disrupting this interaction would lead to early blockage of viral replication. To identify chemical tools to further study these functional interfaces, 139,146 compounds from different chemical libraries were screened through an S/ACE2 in silico virtual molecular model. The best compounds were selected for further characterization using both cellular and biochemical approaches, reiterating SARS-CoV-2 entry and the S/ACE2 interaction. We report here two selected hits, bis-indolyl pyridine AB-00011778 and triphenylamine AB-00047476. Both of these compounds can block the infectivity of lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with the SARS-CoV-2 S protein as well as wild-type and circulating variant SARS-CoV-2 strains in various human cell lines, including pulmonary cells naturally susceptible to infection. AlphaLISA and biolayer interferometry confirmed a direct inhibitory effect of these drugs on the S/ACE2 association. A specific study of the AB-00011778 inhibitory properties showed that this drug inhibits viral replication with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) between 0.1 and 0.5 μM depending on the cell lines. Molecular docking calculations of the interaction parameters of the molecules within the S/ACE2 complex from both wild-type and circulating variants of the virus showed that the molecules may target multiple sites within the S/ACE2 interface. Our work indicates that AB-00011778 constitutes a good tool for modulating this interface and a strong lead compound for further therapeutic purposes.