Summary
In December 2019, an unknown pneumonia-disease outbreak emerged in in
Wuhan, China. The incriminated causative pathogen, later termed
SARS-CoV-2, was found to be a novel lineage of betacoronavirus,
belonging to subgenus sarbecovirus. Although China has roughly
controlled the epidemic, but the situation in the rest of the world is
becoming less and less optimistic. Scientists and pharmaceutical
companies around the world are actively looking for treatment options.
Till now, there are couple of drugs undergo the clinical trial including
convalescent plasma, which possess valid methods of treating or
preventing the disease. And since considerable studies had already been
carried out based on the analysis of SARS-CoV-2’s genome sequence and
its comparison with that of the other SARS-like virus, let us review in
detail and, hopefully, they might provide us with some key features for
answering some of the crucial questions relating to its origin,
epidemiology, and treatment to better contain the virus. Basing on that,
clues on how to develop a fast and accurate viral diagnostic method and
the way of treating it may also be provided.
Up to now, the treating option constrained only in a few drugs
(Remdesivir, Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Favipiravir etc.), in
addition to the Chinese herb as well as convalescent plasma. More drugs
are only roughly screened by virtual screening, and they are still far
from not achieving the minimum standards for clinical treatment
application. Also, the expected vaccine was reported but it just started
the very first trial and still needs time to apply on a large scale.
Although the very origin of this virus has been determined to be bats,
but till now we still can’t determine what kind of animal plays the role
of the intermediate host, leaving an issue that needs a further
investigation.