COVID-19: Transmission, prevention, and potential therapeutic opportunities

Melika Lotfi; Michael R Hamblin; Nima Rezaei

doi:10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.044

COVID-19: Transmission, prevention, and potential therapeutic opportunities

Clin Chim Acta. 2020 Sep:508:254-266. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.044. Epub 2020 May 29.

Authors

Melika Lotfi¹, Michael R Hamblin², Nima Rezaei³

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Zanjan, Iran.
² Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Boston, MA, USA.
³ Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: rezaei_nima@tums.ac.ir.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global challenge. Despite intense research efforts worldwide, an effective vaccine and viable treatment options have eluded investigators. Therefore, infection prevention, early viral detection and identification of successful treatment protocols provide the best approach in controlling disease spread. In this review, current therapeutic options, preventive methods and transmission routes of COVID-19 are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Prevention; SARS-CoV-2; Transmission; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
COVID-19 / epidemiology*
COVID-19 / prevention & control
COVID-19 / therapy*
COVID-19 / transmission
COVID-19 Serotherapy
COVID-19 Vaccines
Clinical Trials as Topic
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
Coronavirus Infections / transmission
Drug Repositioning
Humans
Immunization, Passive / methods
Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
Pandemics* / prevention & control
Personal Protective Equipment
Physical Distancing
Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral / therapy*
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
SARS-CoV-2
Viral Vaccines / biosynthesis

Substances

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Antiviral Agents
COVID-19 Vaccines
Immunologic Factors
Viral Vaccines