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Tag: SARS-CoV-2

How does the antiviral drug Paxlovid fight the Sars-CoV-2 corona virus

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On March 16, 2023

In cellular basis of life, microbiology, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03172023

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – proteins can be cut by hydrolysis using proteases
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – transmembrane proteins can serve as receptors
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – RNA is translated into proteins on ribosomes
  4. microbiology – lifecycle of RNA viruses

The news item:  Recently this news appeared online

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jul/23/bidens-health-improving-after-second-day-paxlovid-/

The article states that President Biden received Paxlovid treatment after his diagnosis of COVID infection. The article doesn’t explain anything about Paxlovid itself.

So, Why Do I Care??  At the time of writing this blog post the number of COVID infections numbered 765 million with 6.78 million deaths worldwide.  There is a small number of people (less than 1% of infections) who suffer serious health consequences, and even die because of this virus. Early intervention, such as the use of oral antiviral drugs is a promising way to prevent the development of serious illness.  The way Paxlovid acts may provide a template on how antiviral drugs may treat other virus-borne illnesses.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about why corona viruses can cause so much damage to our bodies. Corona viruses is an organism that can not multiply without a cell hosting it. In order to multiply, corona viruses hijack the RNA making and the protein-making capacities of the host cell.  Viral hijacking means that the host cell can not make RNA and proteins for the host’s own use, and the host cell dies as a consequence of the infection. Therefore, the main direct damage from corona virus infection is the killing of our own cells.

Second, let’s talk about how Sars-CoV-2 hijacks cells. Once a corona virus enters a living host cell, the long RNA of the virus snatches the ribosomes of the host cell, and is transcribed into a long, viral

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Could antibodies from plasma of recovered patients defeat the SARS-CoV-2 virus?

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On June 4, 2020

In lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 06042020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cell chapter – endocytosis and phagocytosis as transport through cell membranes
  2. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – macrophages of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – antibody structure
  6. lymphatic and immune system chapter – antibodies are made for specific targets

The news item:  Recently reports appeared where blood plasma taken from recovered patients are given to seriously ill COVID-19 patients:

Blood plasma appears safe for COVID-19 patients in early trial results

Researchers report promising results in early safety trials of convalescent plasma therapy, in which the blood of COVID-19 survivors is used to treat patients.

The article mentions that antibodies in the plasma are the active ingredient, and that 5000 patients were evaluated in this trial to determine the safety of such treatment.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last few months??? The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 disease has so far infected over 6 million people, and caused over 377,000 deaths worldwide (on the date of this article). The virus attacks the respiratory system, specifically the alveoli, and may cause pneumonia and death by respiratory failure.  The antibodies from the recovered patients hold promise as a possible treatment to lower the lethality of the virus.

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How could the antiproliferative drug Jakafi help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On May 7, 2020

In cardiovascular system, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 05072020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  2. blood chapter – hematopoiesis in red bone marrow
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – immune defense cells of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – events of inflammation

How could the anti-proliferative drug Jakafi help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

The news item:  Recent articles reported that the anti-proliferative drug will be evaluated as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients:

Incyte drug could be part of COVID-19 treatment

A global biopharmaceutical company based in Delaware is working to get one of its drugs approved to treat the new coronavirus disease. Officials at Incyte…

The news item mentions that the drug may inhibit cytokine storm in coronavirus infected patients.

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How could the leukemia fighter drug Calquence help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On April 24, 2020

In cardiovascular system, lymphatic and immune system, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 04242020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. blood chapter – white blood cell types and their functions
  2. blood chapter – malfunctioning mechanisms in leukemia
  3. respiratory system chapter – alveoli as the sites of gas exchange
  4. respiratory system chapter – immune defense cells of alveoli
  5. lymphatic and immune system chapter – events of inflammation

How could the leukemia fighter drug Calquence help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

The news item:  Recent articles reported that the anti-cancer drug will be evaluated as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients:

AstraZeneca to test impact of cancer drug Calquence on coronavirus patients

Calquence (acalabrutinib) belongs to a class of drugs called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors which can suppress autoimmune diseases. The drug, which is currently used to treat certain types of blood cancers, has already been approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the U.S.

The news item mentions cytokine storm in coronavirus infected patients, and that the drug is a BTK inhibitor.

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How could the antiviral drug remdesivir help us defeat the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

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On April 19, 2020

In cellular basis of life, chemical basis of life, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 04182020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. chemical basis of life chapter – nucleotides that make up RNA
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – RNA production for cellular uses
  3. microbiology – corona viruses are RNA viruses

The news item:  A recent article discussed clinical trial results of the drug remdesivir:

Report: Covid-19 patients recovering quickly after getting experimental drug | CNN

Covid-19 patients who are getting an experimental drug called remdesivir have been recovering quickly, with most going home in days, STAT News reported Thursday after it obtained a video of a conversation about the trial.

The news item mentions promising anecdotal information of the drug, and that it was found effective in animals against other coronavirus-based diseases.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last few

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In what possible way could chloroquine defeat the mighty COVID 19 disease?

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On March 21, 2020

In cellular basis of life, respiratory system

TeachableMedicalNews article 03202020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – receptor mediated endocytosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – fusion of endosome with lysosome
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – enzymes inside the lysosome require low pH
  4. microbiology – coronaviruses receptors on cell membranes
  5. microbiology – coronaviruses and their release into the cytoplasm

The news item:  A possible treatment of COVID 19 patients made the news recently:

Chloroquine, an old malaria drug, may help treat novel coronavirus, doctors say

According to early research, an old malaria drug called chloroquine might also work for the new coronavirus.

The article mentions the drug chloroquine, and that it blocks the attachment of the virus to cultured cells.  This latter point is inaccurate, so read on to find out the truth.

So, Why Do I Care??  Have you been living under a rock in the last two

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