The Contemporaneous and Impending Developments for Combatting COVID-19

Authors: Singh NK* and Kuldeep M

Special Issue 1: COVID-19 Disease Characteristics in Different Types of Patients

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative viral agent for the COVID-19 infection has rapidly spread worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 infection spread around the globe (~198 countries) and true statistics of this pandemic are difficult to estimate due to significantly limited healthcare capability around the world. For the alleviation, the effects of the SARS CoV-2 virus on public health and the economy, a vaccine is urgently needed. Currently, more than 10 vaccine candidates have reached the final phase of the clinical trial. The global scale-up of vaccine trials requires a massive testing and immune monitoring effort that is unprecedented in modern science. While there are many vaccination strategies, the common theme is that these must elicit sustained immunity that is predicated on the production of neutralizing or blocking antibodies that recognize exposed protein epitopes. Today this process remains entirely laboratory bound, is costly, and in the availability of common assay for assessing immunity across multiple vaccines hence an urgent preparedness needed to overcome forthcoming challenges.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Swine; Influenza; Zika; Ebola

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