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Viruses
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Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries
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Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 December 2021) | Viewed by 48744

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Burtram C. Fielding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Molecular Biology and Virology Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Interests: human coronaviruses; SARS-CoV; HCoV-NL63; MERS-CoV; SARS-CoV-2; molecular and cell biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Georgia Schäfer

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Interests: oncogenic and emerging viruses; KSHV; EBV; HPV; SARS-CoV-2; HIV
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 105 million people worldwide. During this pandemic, researchers and clinicians have been working to understand the molecular mechanisms that underpin viral pathogenesis by studying viral–host interactions. Now with the global rollout of various COVID-19 vaccines—based on the neutralization of the spike protein using different technologies—viral immunology and cell-based immunity are being investigated. Researchers are also studying how various SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations will impact the efficacy of these COVID-19 vaccines. At the same time, various antiviral drugs have been identified or repurposed that have potential as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatment.

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is the acronym used to associate five major emerging national economies. The BRICS countries are known for their significant influence on regional affairs, including being leaders in scientific and clinical research and innovation. This Special Issue is open to all researchers from BRICS countries, in particular South Africa, involved in the study of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Original articles, as well as new perspectives or reviews on the matter, are welcome. Research in the fields of vaccine studies, pathogenesis, genetic mutations, viral immunology, and antiviral drugs are especially encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Burtram C. Fielding
Dr. Georgia Schäfer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • viral pathogenesis
  • vaccines
  • antivirals
  • viral-host interactions
  • viral immunology
  • cell-based immunity
  • genetic mutations
  • drug repurposing

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1758 KiB  
Article
Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test
by Maria Clara Saad Menezes, Diego Vinicius Santinelli Pestana, Juliana Carvalho Ferreira, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro de Carvalho, Marcelo Consorti Felix, Izabel Oliva Marcilio, Katia Regina da Silva, Vilson Cobello Junior, Julio Flavio Marchini, Julio Cesar Alencar, Luz Marina Gomez Gomez, Denis Deratani Mauá, Heraldo Possolo Souza, Emergency USP COVID-19 Group and HCFMUSP COVID-19 Study Group
Viruses 2022, 14(2), 175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v14020175 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab sample is a common test for diagnosing COVID-19. However, some patients present clinical, laboratorial, and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection with negative RT-PCR result(s). Thus, we assessed whether positive results were associated [...] Read more.
Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab sample is a common test for diagnosing COVID-19. However, some patients present clinical, laboratorial, and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection with negative RT-PCR result(s). Thus, we assessed whether positive results were associated with intubation and mortality. This study was conducted in a Brazilian tertiary hospital from March to August of 2020. All patients had clinical, laboratory, and radiological diagnosis of COVID-19. They were divided into two groups: positive (+) RT-PCR group, with 2292 participants, and negative (−) RT-PCR group, with 706 participants. Patients with negative RT-PCR testing and an alternative most probable diagnosis were excluded from the study. The RT-PCR(+) group presented increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality, when compared to the RT-PCR(−) group. A positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was independently associated with intubation and 28 day in-hospital mortality. Accordingly, we concluded that patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis based on clinical data, despite a negative RT-PCR test from nasopharyngeal samples, presented more favorable outcomes than patients with positive RT-PCR test(s). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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12 pages, 3278 KiB  
Article
SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Zoonoses to Pumas and Lions, South Africa
by Katja Natalie Koeppel, Adriano Mendes, Amy Strydom, Lia Rotherham, Misheck Mulumba and Marietjie Venter
Viruses 2022, 14(1), 120; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v14010120 - 11 Jan 2022
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8964
Abstract
Reverse-zoonotic infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to wildlife species internationally raise concern over the emergence of new variants in animals. A better understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis in susceptible species will mitigate the risk to [...] Read more.
Reverse-zoonotic infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to wildlife species internationally raise concern over the emergence of new variants in animals. A better understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis in susceptible species will mitigate the risk to humans and wildlife occurring in Africa. Here we report infection of an exotic puma (July 2020) and three African lions (July 2021) in the same private zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. One Health genomic surveillance identified transmission of a Delta variant from a zookeeper to the three lions, similar to those circulating in humans in South Africa. One lion developed pneumonia while the other cases had mild infection. Both the puma and lions remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for up to 7 weeks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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12 pages, 2954 KiB  
Article
Patient and Clinical Factors at Admission Affect the Levels of Neutralizing Antibodies Six Months after Recovering from COVID-19
by Xinjie Li, Ling Pang, Yue Yin, Yuqi Zhang, Shuyun Xu, Dong Xu and Tao Shen
Viruses 2022, 14(1), 80; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v14010080 - 02 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1948
Abstract
The rate of decline in the levels of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) greatly varies among patients who recover from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about factors associated with this phenomenon. The objective of this study is to investigate early factors at [...] Read more.
The rate of decline in the levels of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) greatly varies among patients who recover from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about factors associated with this phenomenon. The objective of this study is to investigate early factors at admission that can influence long-term NAb levels in patients who recovered from COVID-19. A total of 306 individuals who recovered from COVID-19 at the Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China, were included in this study. The patients were classified into two groups with high (NAbhigh, n = 153) and low (NAblow, n = 153) levels of NAb, respectively based on the median NAb levels six months after discharge. The majority (300/306, 98.0%) of the COVID-19 convalescents had detected NAbs. The median NAb concentration was 63.1 (34.7, 108.9) AU/mL. Compared with the NAblow group, a larger proportion of the NAbhigh group received corticosteroids (38.8% vs. 22.4%, p = 0.002) and IVIG therapy (26.5% vs. 16.3%, p = 0.033), and presented with diabetes comorbidity (25.2% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.004); high blood urea (median (IQR): 4.8 (3.7, 6.1) vs. 3.9 (3.5, 5.4) mmol/L; p = 0.017); CRP (31.6 (4.0, 93.7) vs. 16.3 (2.7, 51.4) mg/L; p = 0.027); PCT (0.08 (0.05, 0.17) vs. 0.05 (0.03, 0.09) ng/mL; p = 0.001); SF (838.5 (378.2, 1533.4) vs. 478.5 (222.0, 1133.4) μg/L; p = 0.035); and fibrinogen (5.1 (3.8, 6.4) vs. 4.5 (3.5, 5.7) g/L; p = 0.014) levels, but low SpO2 levels (96.0 (92.0, 98.0) vs. 97.0 (94.0, 98.0)%; p = 0.009). The predictive model based on Gaussian mixture models, displayed an average accuracy of 0.7117 in one of the 8191 formulas, and ROC analysis showed an AUC value of 0.715 (0.657–0.772), and specificity and sensitivity were 72.5% and 67.3%, respectively. In conclusion, we found that several factors at admission can contribute to the high level of NAbs in patients after discharge, and constructed a predictive model for long-term NAb levels, which can provide guidance for clinical treatment and monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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13 pages, 848 KiB  
Article
Rapid and Successful Implementation of a COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Programme—The South African Experience
by Tanya Nadia Glatt, Caroline Hilton, Cynthia Nyoni, Avril Swarts, Ronel Swanevelder, James Cowley, Cordelia Mmenu, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete, Penny L. Moore, Munzhedzi Kutama, Jabulisile Jaza, Itumeleng Phayane, Tinus Brits, Johan Koekemoer, Ute Jentsch, Derrick Nelson, Karin van den Berg and Marion Vermeulen
Viruses 2021, 13(10), 2050; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13102050 - 12 Oct 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been considered internationally as a treatment option for COVID-19. CCP refers to plasma collected from donors who have recovered from and made antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. To date, convalescent plasma has not been collected in South Africa. As [...] Read more.
Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been considered internationally as a treatment option for COVID-19. CCP refers to plasma collected from donors who have recovered from and made antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. To date, convalescent plasma has not been collected in South Africa. As other investigational therapies and vaccination were not widely accessible, there was an urgent need to implement a CCP manufacture programme to service South Africans. Methods: The South African National Blood Service and the Western Cape Blood Service implemented a CCP programme that included CCP collection, processing, testing and storage. CCP units were tested for SARS-CoV-2 Spike ELISA and neutralising antibodies and routine blood transfusion parameters. CCP units from previously pregnant females were tested for anti-HLA and anti-HNA antibodies. Results: A total of 987 CCP units were collected from 243 donors, with a median of three donations per donor. Half of the CCP units had neutralising antibody titres of >1:160. One CCP unit was positive on the TPHA serology. All CCP units tested for anti-HLA antibodies were positive. Conclusion: Within three months of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in South Africa, a fully operational CCP programme was set up across South Africa. The infrastructure and skills implemented will likely benefit South Africans in this and future pandemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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9 pages, 1242 KiB  
Article
In Vivo Study of Aerosol, Droplets and Splatter Reduction in Dentistry
by Naeemah Noordien, Suné Mulder-van Staden and Riaan Mulder
Viruses 2021, 13(10), 1928; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13101928 - 25 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2948 | Correction
Abstract
Oral health care workers (OHCW) are exposed to pathogenic microorganisms during dental aerosol-generating procedures. Technologies aimed at the reduction of aerosol, droplets and splatter are essential. This in vivo study assessed aerosol, droplet and splatter contamination in a simulated clinical scenario. The coolant [...] Read more.
Oral health care workers (OHCW) are exposed to pathogenic microorganisms during dental aerosol-generating procedures. Technologies aimed at the reduction of aerosol, droplets and splatter are essential. This in vivo study assessed aerosol, droplet and splatter contamination in a simulated clinical scenario. The coolant of the high-speed air turbine was colored with red concentrate. The red aerosol, droplets and splatter contamination on the wrists of the OHCW and chests of the OHCW/volunteer protective gowns, were assessed and quantified in cm2. The efficacy of various evacuation strategies was assessed: low-volume saliva ejector (LV) alone, high-volume evacuator (HV) plus LV and an extra-oral dental aerosol suction device (DASD) plus LV. The Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test for multiple independent samples with a post-hoc test was used. No significant difference between the LV alone compared to the HV plus LV was demonstrated (p = 0.372059). The DASD combined with LV resulted in a 62% reduction of contamination of the OHCW. The HV plus LV reduced contamination by 53% compared to LV alone (p = 0.019945). The DASD demonstrated a 50% reduction in the contamination of the OHCWs wrists and a 30% reduction in chest contamination compared to HV plus LV. The DASD in conjunction with LV was more effective in reducing aerosol, droplets and splatter than HV plus LV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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16 pages, 2678 KiB  
Article
Clinical Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Samples from COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections during the Second Wave among the Various States of India
by Nivedita Gupta, Harmanmeet Kaur, Pragya Dhruv Yadav, Labanya Mukhopadhyay, Rima R. Sahay, Abhinendra Kumar, Dimpal A. Nyayanit, Anita M. Shete, Savita Patil, Triparna Majumdar, Salaj Rana, Swati Gupta, Jitendra Narayan, Neetu Vijay, Pradip Barde, Gita Nataraj, Amrutha Kumari B., Manasa P. Kumari, Debasis Biswas, Jyoti Iravane, Sharmila Raut, Shanta Dutta, Sulochana Devi, Purnima Barua, Piyali Gupta, Biswa Borkakoty, Deepjyoti Kalita, Kanwardeep Dhingra, Bashir Fomda, Yash Joshi, Kapil Goyal, Reena John, Ashok Munivenkatappa , Rahul Dhodapkar, Priyanka Pandit, Sarada Devi, Manisha Dudhmal, Deepa Kinariwala, Neeta Khandelwal, Yogendra Kumar Tiwari, Prabhat Kiran Khatri, Anjli Gupta, Himanshu Khatri, Bharti Malhotra, Mythily Nagasundaram, Lalit Dar, Nazira Sheikh, Jayanthi Shastri, Neeraj Aggarwal and Priya Abrahamadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Viruses 2021, 13(9), 1782; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13091782 - 07 Sep 2021
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 5294
Abstract
From March to June 2021, India experienced a deadly second wave of COVID-19, with an increased number of post-vaccination breakthrough infections reported across the country. To understand the possible reason for these breakthroughs, we collected 677 clinical samples (throat swab/nasal swabs) of individuals [...] Read more.
From March to June 2021, India experienced a deadly second wave of COVID-19, with an increased number of post-vaccination breakthrough infections reported across the country. To understand the possible reason for these breakthroughs, we collected 677 clinical samples (throat swab/nasal swabs) of individuals from 17 states/Union Territories of the country who had received two doses (n = 592) and one dose (n = 85) of vaccines and tested positive for COVID-19. These cases were telephonically interviewed and clinical data were analyzed. A total of 511 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were recovered with genome coverage of higher than 98% from both groups. Analysis of both groups determined that 86.69% (n = 443) of them belonged to the Delta variant, along with Alpha, Kappa, Delta AY.1, and Delta AY.2. The Delta variant clustered into four distinct sub-lineages. Sub-lineage I had mutations in ORF1ab A1306S, P2046L, P2287S, V2930L, T3255I, T3446A, G5063S, P5401L, and A6319V, and in N G215C; Sub-lineage II had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, A3209V, V3718A, G5063S, P5401L, and ORF7a L116F; Sub-lineage III had mutations in ORF1ab A3209V, V3718A, T3750I, G5063S, and P5401L and in spike A222V; Sub-lineage IV had mutations in ORF1ab P309L, D2980N, and F3138S and spike K77T. This study indicates that majority of the breakthrough COVID-19 clinical cases were infected with the Delta variant, and only 9.8% cases required hospitalization, while fatality was observed in only 0.4% cases. This clearly suggests that the vaccination does provide reduction in hospital admission and mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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22 pages, 1861 KiB  
Article
Age, Disease Severity and Ethnicity Influence Humoral Responses in a Multi-Ethnic COVID-19 Cohort
by Muneerah Smith, Houari B. Abdesselem, Michelle Mullins, Ti-Myen Tan, Andrew J. M. Nel, Maryam A. Y. Al-Nesf, Ilham Bensmail, Nour K. Majbour, Nishant N. Vaikath, Adviti Naik, Khalid Ouararhni, Vidya Mohamed-Ali, Mohammed Al-Maadheed, Darien T. Schell, Seanantha S. Baros-Steyl, Nur D. Anuar, Nur H. Ismail, Priscilla E. Morris, Raja N. R. Mamat, Nurul S. M. Rosli, Arif Anwar, Kavithambigai Ellan, Rozainanee M. Zain, Wendy A. Burgers, Elizabeth S. Mayne, Omar M. A. El-Agnaf and Jonathan M. Blackburnadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Viruses 2021, 13(5), 786; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13050786 - 28 Apr 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4074
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all individuals across the globe in some way. Despite large numbers of reported seroprevalence studies, there remains a limited understanding of how the magnitude and epitope utilization of the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 viral anti-gens varies within [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all individuals across the globe in some way. Despite large numbers of reported seroprevalence studies, there remains a limited understanding of how the magnitude and epitope utilization of the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 viral anti-gens varies within populations following natural infection. Here, we designed a quantitative, multi-epitope protein microarray comprising various nucleocapsid protein structural motifs, including two structural domains and three intrinsically disordered regions. Quantitative data from the microarray provided complete differentiation between cases and pre-pandemic controls (100% sensitivity and specificity) in a case-control cohort (n = 100). We then assessed the influence of disease severity, age, and ethnicity on the strength and breadth of the humoral response in a multi-ethnic cohort (n = 138). As expected, patients with severe disease showed significantly higher antibody titers and interestingly also had significantly broader epitope coverage. A significant increase in antibody titer and epitope coverage was observed with increasing age, in both mild and severe disease, which is promising for vaccine efficacy in older individuals. Additionally, we observed significant differences in the breadth and strength of the humoral immune response in relation to ethnicity, which may reflect differences in genetic and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, our data enabled localization of the immuno-dominant epitope to the C-terminal structural domain of the viral nucleocapsid protein in two independent cohorts. Overall, we have designed, validated, and tested an advanced serological assay that enables accurate quantitation of the humoral response post natural infection and that has revealed unexpected differences in the magnitude and epitope utilization within a population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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7 pages, 2569 KiB  
Communication
A Potential SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Interest (VOI) Harboring Mutation E484K in the Spike Protein Was Identified within Lineage B.1.1.33 Circulating in Brazil
by Paola Cristina Resende, Tiago Gräf, Anna Carolina Dias Paixão, Luciana Appolinario, Renata Serrano Lopes, Ana Carolina da Fonseca Mendonça, Alice Sampaio Barreto da Rocha, Fernando Couto Motta, Lidio Gonçalves Lima Neto, Ricardo Khouri, Camila I. de Oliveira, Pedro Santos-Muccillo, João Felipe Bezerra, Dalane Loudal Florentino Teixeira, Irina Riediger, Maria do Carmo Debur, Rodrigo Ribeiro-Rodrigues, Anderson Brandao Leite, Cliomar Alves do Santos, Tatiana Schäffer Gregianini, Sandra Bianchini Fernandes, André Felipe Leal Bernardes, Andrea Cony Cavalcanti, Fábio Miyajima, Claudio Sachhi, Tirza Mattos, Cristiano Fernandes da Costa, Edson Delatorre, Gabriel L. Wallau, Felipe G. Naveca, Gonzalo Bello and Marilda Mendonça Siqueiraadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Viruses 2021, 13(5), 724; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13050724 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6302
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in Brazil was dominated by two lineages designated as B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33. The two SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring mutations at the receptor-binding domain of the Spike (S) protein, designated as lineages P.1 and P.2, evolved [...] Read more.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in Brazil was dominated by two lineages designated as B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33. The two SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring mutations at the receptor-binding domain of the Spike (S) protein, designated as lineages P.1 and P.2, evolved from lineage B.1.1.28 and are rapidly spreading in Brazil. Lineage P.1 is considered a Variant of Concern (VOC) because of the presence of multiple mutations in the S protein (including K417T, E484K, N501Y), while lineage P.2 only harbors mutation S:E484K and is considered a Variant of Interest (VOI). On the other hand, epidemiologically relevant B.1.1.33 deriving lineages have not been described so far. Here we report the identification of a new SARS-CoV-2 VOI within lineage B.1.1.33 that also harbors mutation S:E484K and was detected in Brazil between November 2020 and February 2021. This VOI displayed four non-synonymous lineage-defining mutations (NSP3:A1711V, NSP6:F36L, S:E484K, and NS7b:E33A) and was designated as lineage N.9. The VOI N.9 probably emerged in August 2020 and has spread across different Brazilian states from the Southeast, South, North, and Northeast regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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Review

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23 pages, 776 KiB  
Review
A Review of COVID-19 Modelling Strategies in Three Countries to Develop a Research Framework for Regional Areas
by Azizur Rahman, Md Abdul Kuddus, Ryan H. L. Ip and Michael Bewong
Viruses 2021, 13(11), 2185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13112185 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2734
Abstract
At the end of December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Wuhan city, China. Modelling plays a crucial role in developing a strategy to prevent a disease outbreak from spreading around the globe. Models have contributed to the perspicacity of epidemiological variations [...] Read more.
At the end of December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Wuhan city, China. Modelling plays a crucial role in developing a strategy to prevent a disease outbreak from spreading around the globe. Models have contributed to the perspicacity of epidemiological variations between and within nations and the planning of desired control strategies. In this paper, a literature review was conducted to summarise knowledge about COVID-19 disease modelling in three countries—China, the UK and Australia—to develop a robust research framework for the regional areas that are urban and rural health districts of New South Wales, Australia. In different aspects of modelling, summarising disease and intervention strategies can help policymakers control the outbreak of COVID-19 and may motivate modelling disease-related research at a finer level of regional geospatial scales in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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17 pages, 2112 KiB  
Review
Nanotechnology as a Shield against COVID-19: Current Advancement and Limitations
by Mahendra Rai, Shital Bonde, Alka Yadav, Arpita Bhowmik, Sanjay Rathod, Pramod Ingle and Aniket Gade
Viruses 2021, 13(7), 1224; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13071224 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6097
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global health problem that the WHO declared a pandemic. COVID-19 has resulted in a worldwide lockdown and threatened to topple the global economy. The mortality of COVID-19 [...] Read more.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global health problem that the WHO declared a pandemic. COVID-19 has resulted in a worldwide lockdown and threatened to topple the global economy. The mortality of COVID-19 is comparatively low compared with previous SARS outbreaks, but the rate of spread of the disease and its morbidity is alarming. This virus can be transmitted human-to-human through droplets and close contact, and people of all ages are susceptible to this virus. With the advancements in nanotechnology, their remarkable properties, including their ability to amplify signal, can be used for the development of nanobiosensors and nanoimaging techniques that can be used for early-stage detection along with other diagnostic tools. Nano-based protection equipment and disinfecting agents can provide much-needed protection against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, nanoparticles can serve as a carrier for antigens or as an adjuvant, thereby making way for the development of a new generation of vaccines. The present review elaborates the role of nanotechnology-based tactics used for the detection, diagnosis, protection, and treatment of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

1 pages, 172 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Noordien et al. In Vivo Study of Aerosol, Droplets and Splatter Reduction in Dentistry. Viruses 2021, 13, 1928
by Naeemah Noordien, Suné Mulder-van Staden and Riaan Mulder
Viruses 2023, 15(8), 1669; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v15081669 - 31 Jul 2023
Viewed by 429
Abstract
There was an error of omission in the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
7 pages, 212 KiB  
Perspective
A Perspective on Nanotechnology and COVID-19 Vaccine Research and Production in South Africa
by Admire Dube, Samuel Egieyeh and Mohammed Balogun
Viruses 2021, 13(10), 2095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/v13102095 - 18 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2631
Abstract
Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of a new generation of vaccines, which are playing a critical role in the global control of the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to normalcy. Vaccine development has been conducted, by and large, by countries in [...] Read more.
Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of a new generation of vaccines, which are playing a critical role in the global control of the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to normalcy. Vaccine development has been conducted, by and large, by countries in the global north. South Africa, as a major emerging economy, has made extensive investments in nanotechnology and bioinformatics and has the expertise and resources in vaccine development and manufacturing. This has been built at a national level through decades of investment. In this perspective article, we provide a synopsis of the investments made in nanotechnology and highlight how these could support innovation, research, and development for vaccines for this disease. We also discuss the application of bioinformatics tools to support rapid and cost-effective vaccine development and make recommendations for future research and development in this area to support future health challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coronaviruses Research in BRICS Countries)
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