This document discusses the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It provides background on coronaviruses, noting they were first identified in 1960 and can cause respiratory illnesses like SARS. The current coronavirus emerged in China in late 2019 and has since spread globally, killing hundreds daily. While studies on animals are limited, research aims to develop treatments like RNA silencing. Prevention efforts are led by CDC and WHO. Coronaviruses can spread through airborne droplets and contact with infected animals or humans. Further research is needed to fully understand transmission and develop effective treatments.

1. Corona virus current scenario-
(Theoretical outlook)
DR.SREEREMYA
FACULTY OF BIOLOGY

2. • INTRODUCTION
• Corona virus was first identified as the cause of the common cold in
1960. In one study carried out in Canada in 2001, more than 510
patients presented with flu-like symptoms. Virological analyses
showed that 3.7% of these cases were positive for the HCoV-NL63
strain by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Until 2002, the corona
virus was considered a relatively simple, nonfatal virus; however, an
outbreak in 2002–2003 in the Guangdong province in China, which
resulted in spread to many other countries, encompassing Thailand,
Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong Singapore, and the United States of
America, causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and high
mortality rates in over 1000 -1100 patients. After this outbreak, the
microbiologists and infectious disease experts focused on the
understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and discovered that
this infestation was caused by a new form of corona virus(Chu et
al.,2014).

3. • Corona virus(COVID-19) is RNA virus. Which has
proved to be pandemic.It causes respiratory
disease called Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome(SARS). Currently it is a deadly disease
which is killing hundreds of people day by day
from late 2019 to till date. There is only few
studies regarding the corona virus infection in
animals. Studies are still progressing to find
remedies like variolation, RNA silencing or
boosting human interferon’s to decrease the
affect of the disease.

4. • Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a state of emergency . In
another report from Hong Kong, approximately 50 patients presented with SARS, and more than
60% of these patients were found positive for corona virus . The evolution of this virus
demonstrated that coronavirus is not quiet stable virus and can adapt to become more virulent,
even lethal, to humans. Indeed, another outbreak in Saudi Arabia in the year 2012 resulted in
many deaths and spread first to other countries in the Middle East and then worldwide, resulting in
the renewed interest in studies of this new form of coronavirus(Reusken et al.,2014) .
• MICROBIOLOGY
• Corona virus is a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus 1 that is of shape spherical or pleomorphic
in the shape with bear’s club-shaped glycoprotein projections. There are subtypes of the corona
virus, alpha corona virus, beta corona virus, gamma corona virus, and delta corona virus, and each
subtype has many many serotypes. For example, OC43-like and 229E–like have been shown to
mainly affect humans, whereas the other types mainly affect animals . Corona viruses are
transmitted via airborne zoonotic droplets, and also viral replication occurs in the ciliated
epithelium, resulting in the cellular damage and inflammatory reactions at the site of infection . In
addition to humans, the corona viruses are also found in bats, and also whales, pigs, birds, cats,
dogs, and mice(Perera et al.,2013) .
•

5. • Coronaviruses are allied with a wide variety of diseases of man and other animals. The importance
of this group of viruses in both the medical and economic terms has become aggrandizingly evident
since the First International Congress was held in Germany in the year 1980. The application of
modern molecular biology and immunology has contributed to the new insights into understanding
the biology of the viruses and the pathogenesis of the diseases they generate. The number of
investigators has also increased over the past few decades as evidenced by this Congress which is
thus far the largest and vastest ever held(Nowotny et al.,2014). The significance and attraction for
veterinary, medical and basic scientists from the very first days of the Corona virology has probably
revolved around the marked tropism these viruses have had for the specific tissues, particularly the
gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and the nervous system. The prime scientific observations
were probably made by Baudette and Hudson in 1933 when they delineated "gasping disease" of
chickens and then transmitted the disease to the embryos . Gasping disease was observed to be
quiet a devastatingly lethal respiratory disease(Yusof et al.,2015). The infected embryos were
dwarfed and in the classical clinical terms were described as being "curled in balls". Subsequently,
this virus was mainly identified as infectious bronchitis virus CIBV) which became the prototype of
this family of the viruses. This description of the IBV infected animals being "curled in balls" was
brought to the attention about 15 years ago when I was interested in a neurogenic disease of the
humans,

6. • Arthrogryposis multiplex. Arthrogryposis involved fusion of the joints during the development and
has been attributed to both motor neuron and primary muscle disease. Physicians examined these
"curled balls" and indeed found fusion of the embryo joints following the infection of IBV, but could
not determine pathogenic mechanisms. In contrast to the IBV, the turkey coronavirus or Bluecomb
disease and the isolation of "a hepatitis of mice" were the gastrointestinal diseases rather than a
respiratory infection. Gledhill and Andrewes' isolation of the mouse hepatitis virus propelled and
acclerate the field forward (Haagmans et al.,2014). The circumstances of their finding the focuses
on the mysterious ways which prepared minds work."During the autumn of 1950 considerable
losses were mainly experienced in breeding stock of the strain of white mice (Parkes (P) strain)
maintained at the National Institute for the Medical Research(Müller et al.,2015).
• SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS
• The symptoms can encompass a cough, possibly with a fever and shortness of breath. There are
some early reports of the non-respiratory symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Many
people recover within the few days. However, some people — especially the very young, elderly, or
people who have the weakened immune system — may develop a more serious infection, such as
the bronchitis or pneumonia(Zhao et al.,2013).
• TREATMENT
• Scientists are working hard to understand the virus, and the Chinese health authorities have posted
its full genome in the international databases. Currently, there are no approved antivirals for this
particular coronavirus, so treatment is quiet supportive. For the sickest patients with this illness,
the specialized, aggressive care in an intensive care unit (ICU) can be lifesaving(Chan et al.,2013).

7. • Unless one have been in close contact with someone who has the coronavirus — which right now,
typically means a traveler from the Wuhan, China who actually has the virus — person likely to be
safe. In the US, for example, only two cases of the virus have been confirmed so far, although this is
likely to change(Lucas et al.,1978).The cases are prolifically increasing in countries like Italy, Middle
east, Iran, Iraq, India, Germany. Approximately 124 countries are being affected by now with this
pathogenic virus named corona. Earlier variolation was one technique adapted by Edward Jenner to
stop the DNA virus, small pox virus infection. Theoretically an option which can be adapted is to
simulate the interferon activity of human system or else to silence the RNA activity by using the
vectors. NIPAH was one virus which had made impact very recently in Kerala by the activity of
bats(S. Sreeremya(a ),2018).
• Researchers don’t yet understand the key particulars of how this virus spreads, coronaviruses
usually spreads through droplets containing large particles that typically can only be suspended in
the air for three to the six feet before dissipating. By contrast, measles or varicella (chickenpox)
spread through the smaller droplets over much greater distances. Some coronaviruses also have
been found in the stool of certain individuals in few cases.
• So it’s likely that coughs or sneezes from an infected person may also spread the virus. It’s too early
to say whether another route of the transmission, fecal-oral contact, might also spreads this
particular virus(Lucas et al.,1978).

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