Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an intestinal coronavirus that can cause porcine epidemic diarrhea, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and even death in piglets. Due to the diversity of PEDV strains, traditional vaccines are difficult to sustainably and effectively prevent and control PEDV. This article reviews the strategies and mechanisms of active substances in regulating intracellular signaling pathways, viral proteins, and microbial metabolites to enhance the host immune function against PEDV. It emphasizes the prevention of PEDV resistance and the potential harm of PEDV breaking through interspecies barriers to the human society, aiming to provide reliable theoretical support for the development of new antiviral drugs or vaccines.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus/immunology* ; Animals ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/prevention & control* ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; Coronavirus Infections/virology* ; Viral Vaccines/immunology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

This study aims to establish an antibody detection method for porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV). The recombinant proteins PDCoV-N1 and PDCoV-N2 were expressed via the prokaryotic plasmid pColdII harboring the N gene sequence of the PDCoV strain CH/XJYN/2016. The reactivity and specificity of PDCoV-N1 and PDCoV-N2 with anti-PEDV sera were analyzed after the recombinant proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and purified by the Ni-NTA Superflow Cartridge. Meanwhile, Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay were carried out separately to validate the recombinant proteins PDCoV-N1 and PDCoV-N2. Finally, we established an indirect ELISA method based on the recombinant protein PDCoV-N2 after optimizing the conditions and tested the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the method. Then, the established method was employed to examine 102 clinical serum samples. The recombinant protein PDCoV-N2 showed low cross-reactivity with anti-PEDV sera. The optimal conditions of the indirect ELISA method based on PDCoV-N2 were as follows: the antigen coating concentration of 1.25 μg/mL and coating at 37 ℃ for 1 h; blocking by BSA overnight at 4 ℃; serum sample dilution at 1:50 and incubation at 37 ℃ for 1 h; secondary antibody dilution at 1:80 000 and incubation at 37 ℃ for 1 h; color development with TMB chromogenic solution at 37 ℃ for 10 min. The S/P value ≥ 0.45, ≤0.38, and between 0.45 and 0.38 indicated that the test sample was positive, negative, and suspicious, respectively. The testing results of the antisera against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), and African swine fever virus (ASFV) showed that the S/P values were all less than 0.38. The testing results of the 800-fold diluted anti-PDCoV sera were still positive. The results of the inter- and intra-batch tests showed that the coefficients of variation of this method were less than 10%. Clinical serum sample test results showed the coincidence rate between this method and neutralization test was 94.12%. In this study, an ELISA method for the detection of anti-PDCoV antibodies was successfully established based on the truncated N protein of PDCoV. This method is sensitive, specific, stable, and reproducible, serving as a new method for the clinical diagnosis of PDCoV.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods* ; Swine ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics* ; Deltacoronavirus/isolation & purification* ; Coronavirus Infections/virology* ; Swine Diseases/diagnosis* ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. METHODS: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. CONCLUSION A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Treatment Outcome

According to the classification of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of coronavirus disease 2019 by the national competent authority, this study determined that human coronavirus 229 E(HCoV-229 E) was infected in a mouse model of cold and dampness syndrome, so as to build the human coronavirus pneumonia with pestilence attacking lung syndrome model. The model can simulate the traditional Chinese medicine treatment of common disease syndromes in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnosis and Treatment Program(the sixth edition for trial). Specific steps were as follows. ABALB/c mouse model of cold and dampness syndrome was established, based on which, HCoV-229 E virus was infected; then the experiment was divided into normal control group, infection control group, cold-dampness control group, cold-dampness infection group(the model group), high-dose Chaiyin Particles group(8.8 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and low-dose Chaiyin Particles group(4.4 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). On the day of infection, Chaiyin Particles was given for three consecutive days. Lung tissues were collected the day after the last dose, and the lung index and inhibition rate were calculated. The nucleic acid of lung tissue was extracted, and the HCoV-229 E virus load was detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. Blood leukocytes were separated, and the percentage of T and B lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry. Lung tissue protein was extracted, and IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ contents were detected by ELISA. High and low-dose Chaiyin Particles significantly reduced the lung index(P<0.01) of mice of human coronavirus pneumonia with pestilence attacking the lung syndrome, and the inhibition rates were 61.02% and 55.45%, respectively. Compared with the model control group, high and low-dose Chaiyin Particles significantly increased cross blood CD4~+ T lymphocytes, CD8~+T lymphocytes and total B lymphocyte percentage(P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in lungs(P<0.01). In vitro results showed that TC_(50), TC_0, IC_(50) and TI of Chaiyin Particles were 4.46 mg·mL~(-1), 3.13 mg·mL~(-1), 1.12 mg·mL~(-1) and 4. The control group of in vitro culture cells had no HCoV-229 E virus nucleic acid expression. The expression of HCoV-229 E virus nucleic acid in the virus control group was 1.48×10~7 copies/mL, and Chaiyin Particles significantly reduced HCoV-229 E expression at doses of 3.13 and 1.56 mg·mL~(-1), and the expression of HCoV-229 E nucleic acid was 9.47×10~5 and 9.47×10~6 copies/mL, respectively. Chaiyin Particles has a better effect on the mouse model with human coronavirus pneumonia with pestilence attacking the lung syndrome, and could play a role by enhancing immunity, and reducing inflammatory factor expression.
Animals ; Coronavirus 229E, Human ; Coronavirus Infections ; immunology ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

Since December 2019, a series of highly infectious cases of unexplained pneumonia have been discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which have been confirmed as '2019 corona virus disease' caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 virus can invade many human systems including the lungs. Patients with central nervous system involvement may show a series of neurological symptoms, which is easy to be misdiagnosed and neglected, thereby increasing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Hereditary ataxia is a large group of neurodegenerative diseases with great clinical and genetic heterogeneity and high mortality and disability. In view of the seriousness of the COVID-19 epidemic, a series of prevention and control measures adopted by the government have restricted the follow-up, diagnosis and treatment of patients by the hospitals, which has a great impact on their mental and physical health. In order to standardize the management of patients during the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic, the Specialized Committee of Neurogenetics of the Neurophysician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association has formulated this consensus, with an aim to help patients to overcome the difficulties and pass the epidemic prevention period safely.
Betacoronavirus ; China ; epidemiology ; Consensus ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Epidemics ; Health Status ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Nervous System Diseases ; virology ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; epidemiology ; Spinocerebellar Degenerations ; complications ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy

Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular damage of patients with COVID-19, and determine the correlation of serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP） and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI） with the severity of COVID-19, and the impact of concomitant cardiovascular disease on severity of COVID-19 was also evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed on 150 consecutive patients with COVID-19 in the fever clinic of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan from January 19 to February 13 in 2020, including 126 mild cases and 24 cases in critical care. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation of past medical history including hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD）, as well as the levels of serum NT-proBNP and cTnI to the disease severity of COVID-19 patients. Results: Age, hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) and serum creatinine levels of the patients were higher in critical care cases than in mild cases(all P<0.05). Prevalence of male, elevated NT-proBNP and cTnI, hypertension and coronary heart disease were significantly higher in critical cases care patients than in the mild cases(all P<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, male, elevated NT-proBNP, elevated cTnI, elevated hs-CRP, elevated serum creatinine, hypertension, and CHD were significantly correlated with critical disease status(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elevated cTnI(OR=26.909，95%CI 4.086-177.226，P=0.001) and CHD (OR=16.609，95%CI 2.288-120.577，P=0.005) were the independent risk factors of critical disease status. Conclusions: COVID-19 can significantly affect the heart function and lead to myocardial injury. The past medical history of CHD and increased level of cTnI are 2 independent determinants of clinical disease status in patients with COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; Biomarkers/blood* ; COVID-19 ; Cardiovascular Diseases/virology* ; China ; Coronavirus Infections/pathology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood* ; Pandemics ; Peptide Fragments ; Pneumonia, Viral/pathology* ; Prognosis ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Troponin I/blood*

Objective: Present study investigated the mechanism of heart failure associated with coronavirus infection and predicted potential effective therapeutic drugs against heart failure associated with coronavirus infection. Methods: Coronavirus and heart failure were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and omics data were selected to meet experimental requirements. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using the Limma package in R language to screen for differentially expressed genes. The two sets of differential genes were introduced into the R language cluster Profiler package for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto gene and genome encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Two sets of intersections were taken. A protein interaction network was constructed for all differentially expressed genes using STRING database and core genes were screened. Finally, the apparently accurate treatment prediction platform (EpiMed) independently developed by the team was used to predict the therapeutic drug. Results: The GSE59185 coronavirus data set was searched and screened in the GEO database, and divided into wt group, ΔE group, Δ3 group, Δ5 group according to different subtypes, and compared with control group. After the difference analysis, 191 up-regulated genes and 18 down-regulated genes were defined. The GEO126062 heart failure data set was retrieved and screened from the GEO database. A total of 495 differentially expressed genes were screened, of which 165 were up-regulated and 330 were down-regulated. Correlation analysis of differentially expressed genes between coronavirus and heart failure was performed. After cross processing, there were 20 GO entries, which were mainly enriched in virus response, virus defense response, type Ⅰ interferon response, γ interferon regulation, innate immune response regulation, negative regulation of virus life cycle, replication regulation of viral genome, etc. There were 5 KEGG pathways, mainly interacting with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, cytokine and receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, human giant cells viral infection related. All differentially expressed genes were introduced into the STRING online analysis website for protein interaction network analysis, and core genes such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, IL-10, IL17, TNF, interferon regulatory factor 9, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, radical s-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2, c-x-c motif chemokine ligand 10, caspase 3 and other genes were screened. The drugs predicted by EpiMed's apparent precision treatment prediction platform for disease-drug association analysis were mainly TNF-α inhibitors, resveratrol, ritonavir, paeony, retinoic acid, forsythia, and houttuynia cordata. Conclusions: The abnormal activation of multiple inflammatory pathways may be the cause of heart failure in patients after coronavirus infection. Resveratrol, ritonavir, retinoic acid, amaranth, forsythia, houttuynia may have therapeutic effects. Future basic and clinical research is warranted to validate present results and hypothesis.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Computational Biology ; Coronavirus Infections/complications* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Heart Failure/virology* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/complications* ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective: To analyse the clinical history, laboratory tests and pathological data of a patient who suffered from novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19) and provide reference for the clinical treatment of similar cases. Methods: Data of clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, bronchoscopy, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary pathological results were retrospectively reviewed in a case of COVID-19 with rapid exacerbation from mild to critical condition. Results: This patient hospitalized at day 9 post 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV) infection, experienced progressive deterioration from mild to severe at day 12, severe to critical at day 18 and underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) as well as heart lung transplantation during day 28-45 post infection, and died at the second day post heart and lung transplantation. The patient had suffered from hypertension for 8 years. At the early stage of the disease, his symptoms were mild and the inflammatory indices increased and the lymphocyte count decreased continuously. The patient's condition exacerbated rapidly with multi-organ infections, and eventually developed pulmonary hemorrhage and consolidation, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, liver dysfunction, etc. His clinical manifestations could not be improved despite viral RNAs test results became negative. The patient underwent lung and heart transplantation and finally died of multi organ failure at the second day post lung and heart transplantation. Pathological examination indicated massive mucus, dark red secretions and blood clots in bronchus. The pathological changes were mainly diffused pulmonary hemorrhagic injuries and necrosis, fibrosis, small vessel disease with cardiac edema and lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusions: The clinical course of severe COVID-19 can exacerbate rapidly from mild to critical with lung, liver and heart injuries.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/pathology* ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemorrhage/virology* ; Humans ; Lung/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective: To explore the predictive value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on myocardial injury in severe COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we collected and analyzed data form 133 severe COVID-19 patients admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (Eastern District) from January 30 to February 18, 2020. Patients were divided into myocardial injury group (n=29) and non-myocardial injury group (n=104) according the presence or absence of myocardial injury. The general information of patients was collected by electronic medical record database system. All patients were followed up for 30 days, the organ injury and/or dysfunction were monitored, the in-hospital death was compared between the two groups, and the disease progression was reevaluated and classified at 14 days after initial hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of myocardial injury in severe COVID-19 patients. The ROC of NLR was calculated, and the AUC was determined to estimate the optimal cut-off value of NLR for predicting myocardial injury in severe cases of COVID-19. Results: There was statistical significance in age, respiratory frequency, systolic blood pressure, symptoms of dyspnea, previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease history, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, C-reactive protein, platelet counting, aspartate transaminase, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, D-dimer, CD3⁺, CD4⁺, partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of CO₂, blood oxygen saturation, other organ injury, clinical outcome and prognosis between patients with myocardial injury and without myocardial injury (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was a risk factor for myocardial injury (OR=1.066，95%CI 1.021-1.111，P=0.033). ROC curve showed that NLR predicting AUC of myocardial injury in severe COVID-19 patients was 0.774 (95%CI 0.694-0.842), the optimal cut-off value of NLR was 5.768, with a sensitivity of 82.8%, and specificity of 69.5%. Conclusion: NLR may be used to predict myocardial injury in severe COVID-19 patients.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/pathology* ; Heart Diseases/virology* ; Humans ; Lymphocytes/cytology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Neutrophils/cytology* ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/pathology* ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2

Coronaviruses are a type of positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus with envelope and widely exist in nature to cause respiratory infectious diseases. The novel coronavirus is a new outbreak virus that is susceptible to all people. Up to now, the disease has been widely spread in the world and poses a great threat to public health. In this review, the genomic features, key proteins, host infection and replication of coronaviruses and novel coronaviruses are reviewed in order to provide theoretical basis for the study of the pathogenic mechanism of virus infection on host cells and to provide basic support for the development of specific antiviral drugs.
Betacoronavirus/physiology* ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/virology* ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/virology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Virus Replication