Among the coronavirus family, one viral sub-group relies on the ACE2 molecule -- a protein found on the surface of many cell types -- to enter human cells. Neutralising antibodies are able to prevent the viral spike protein from binding with the ACE2 molecules in human cells.
The study will identify small molecule inhibitors to target key viral replication enzymes- RNA dependent RNA polymerase (nsp12), viral proteases (Mpro and PL2pro,) and the Methyltransferase or MTase (nsp14).
The outbreak of Covid-19 is an example of Nature's proactive response to the suicidal behaviour of humans. What is needed is called 'behavioural distancing'. We should change our lifestyle and our attitude towards Nature to heal our planet.
Now that the world is craving for a vaccine, wary that the 7.8 billion members of the human race remain exposed to the new virus, and thus none is immune to it, we can discern the desperate scramble among the worlds scientists to develop a wonder drug to treat the clinical illness that is referred to as Covid-19.
Catastrophes such as earthquakes, hurricanes or outbreak of disease like the coronavirus, are fundamentally connected to underlying factors that render particular areas and individuals vulnerable.
The resurgence of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in the 21st century (SARS, bird flu, MERS, Ebola, Zika, Nipah and COVID-19) has turned the spotlight on animals and insects and vectors of infectious diseases as epidemic villains. Rightly are they regarded as the incubators of the existential risk for humanity.
Meanwhile, the WHO said that there have been 'concerning instances' of Coronavirus among people with no travel history to China, warning that it could be the 'tip of the iceberg', as he urged all countries to prepare for the possible arrival of the novel virus.
“Corona has been a common virus. It was found in 2003, and resurfaced in 2012- 2013. It has now revived again. It infects the respiratory system and directly attacks the lungs. There are talks about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It is a more powerful strain that infects the lungs. The mortality rate increases in the case of elderly persons, children having preexisting diseases like diabetes and lung disease,” said Prof Sanjay Mallik of the department of microbiology, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri.
Swasthya Bhaban, the health department headquarters at Salt Lake, has also directed the CMOHs to send suspected cases to the Infectious Disease (ID) Hospital at Beliaghata in the city for clinical observations.
The death toll from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China has risen to 25, and the number of confirmed cases was now 830.
