Technological Institute of the Philippines

Biochemical Engineering – Homework

The Corona Virus Disease 2019, commonly known as – COVID19, has rapidly emerged as a
global threat to public health. It has emerged from animals and can cause damage to the lungs
and sometimes to other organs, documented human-to-human transmission across multiple
continents, the novel coronavirus is similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and
middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome- both
related to coronavirus. CoVs are positive-stranded RNA viruses with a crown-like appearance
under a microscope. This large family of viruses can cause respiratory, enteric, hepatic and
neurological diseases in different animal species and also identified of being capable to affect
humans. Moreover, lipid solvents including ether (75%), ethanol, chlorine-containing
disinfectant, peroxyacetic acid and chloroform except for chlorhexidine can effectively inactivate
these viruses [1].
 These viruses can be effectively inactivated by lipid solvents including ether (75%), ethanol,
chlorine-containing disinfectant, peroxyacetic acid and chloroform except for chlorhexidine. [2]
Approximately 90 vaccines are under development, with some already in human trials. [3] Every
vaccine gives our body a harmless flavour of the virus, alerting our immune system to respond to
generate antibodies in order to fight the infection (that we should utilize now only if there was an
economic incentive for the virologists before this huge pandemic and during/after the Sars and
Mers).
As I was reading some articles from the past viruses that alarmed thousands around the globe,
this certain treatment that had started during Ebola Virus has come to my attention. It was called
Galidesivir (BCX4430), proven safe and generally well tolerated in Phase 1 clinical safety [4].
Unfortunately, the study didn’t push through due to lack of fund support. [4]. In animal studies,
galidesivir has reveal survival benefits against a variety of serious pathogens, including Ebola,
Marburg, Yellow Fever and Zika viruses. It also shows broad-spectrum antiviral effectiveness
against a range of other RNA virus families,
including bunyaviruses, arenaviruses, paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses, flaviviruses and phlebovi
ruses. [5]
Moreover, Galidesivir is an adenosine nucleoside analog that acts to block viral RNA
polymerase. [4] RNA polymerase plays a crucial role in the viral replication process, including
transcription and replication of the virus genome, in which causes for the viruses to spread from
cell to cell and also the case in COVID19. Nucleoside RNA polymerase inhibitors, like
galidesivir, are metabolized to the active nucleotide form by cellular kinases.
The drug nucleotide binds to the viral enzyme active site and becomes incorporated into the
growing viral RNA strand, leading to premature chain termination. [6] In addition, a well-
established antiviral strategy is the interference of replication process. The development of life-
saving drugs as the nucleoside inhibitors of HIV and acyclovir for herpes simplex complex has
been successfully done by this procedure. [7]
The BCX4430 was under clinical development for treatment of Ebola virus infection, as
discussed earlier, potentially inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from MERS-CoV,
decreases the virus titer in muse lungs infected with Mers-Cov, reduces the replication of virus,
helps improve the lung tissue damage. [8] A controlled trial was done and it showed that the
prolonged use of remdesivir in the treatment of Ebola virus is safe. [9]
Although a lot of vaccines are in development as of today, the treatment for coronavirus is still
unknown. On the positive note, our scientists have been receiving the right attention and
sufficient funding they need to find and fight this virus and while they are still uncover the
accurate measures of this vaccine, we, on the other hand should practice the proper hygiene and
be an accountable citizen to avoid supplemental damage to everyone around us. Always keep a
healthy lifestyle while staying at home.

References:
1. Cascella M., et al. Features, Evaluation and Treatment Coronavirus. 2020.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554776/
2. Rabenau HF., et al. Efficacy of various disinfectants against SARS Coronavirus. 2005.
10.1016/j.jhin.2004.12.023
3. Stamataki Z. Coronavirus vaccine: reasons to be optimistic. 2020
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-vaccine-reasons-to-be-optimistic-137209
4. Taylor R., et al. A broad spectrum antiviral adenosine nucleoside analog under
development for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. 2016. 10.1016/j.jiph.2016.04.002
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4745090/
6. Alberts B., et al. Molecular biology of Cell (4th edition). 2002.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26887/
7. Richman DD., et al. Antiviral Therapy. 2016.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/antiviral-therapy
8. Gordon CJ, Tchesnokov EP, Feng JY, et al. The antiviral compound remdesivir potently
inhibits RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Middle East respiratory syndrome
coronavirus. J Biol Chem. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.AC120.013056.
9. Mulangu S, Dodd LE, Davey RT Jr, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of ebola virus
disease therapeutics. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(24):2293–303.