COVID-19: comprehensive review on mutations and current vaccines

• Authors: Ananda Vardhan Hebbani, Indian Academy Degree College; Swetha Pulakuntla, REVA University; Padmavathi Pannuru, DR Biosciences, Research and Development Institute; Sreelatha Aramgam, Emory University; Kameswara Rao Badri, Morehouse School of Medicine; Vaddi Damodara Reddy, REVA University
• Journal Title: ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 204, Number 1
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature) | 2021-12-06
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-021-02606-x
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Oncology; Chemistry, Biochemistry
• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Mutations; COVID-19; Clinical management; Therapeutic strategies

Abstract

Viral outbreaks had been a threat for the human race for a long time. Several epidemics and pandemics have been reported in the past with serious consequences on human health and subsequent social and economic aspects. According to WHO, viral infections continue to be a major health concern globally. Novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) causes the most recent infectious pandemic disease, COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19). As of now, there were 249 million infections of COVID-19 worldwide with a high mortality of more than 5 million deaths reported; and the number of new additional cases is drastically increasing. Development of therapies to treat the infected cases and prophylactic agents including vaccines that are effective towards different variants are crucial to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Owing to the fact that there is a high mortality and morbidity rate along with the risk of virus causing further epidemic outbursts, development of additional effective therapeutic and preventive strategies are highly warranted. Prevention, early detection and treatment will reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The present review highlights the novel mutations and therapeutic updates associated with coronaviruses along with the clinical manifestations—diagnosis, clinical management and, prophylactic and therapeutic strategies of COVID-19 infection.