As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and preventative vaccines are rolled out, strategies for treating COVID-19 remain necessary. The virus replication cycle is made up of numerous stages, each one a potential area for therapeutic intervention. This includes blocking the virus penetration, interesting since the medicine does not need to enter the targeted cell. […]

Infection by SARS-CoV-2 does not seem to confer herd-immunity when the virus spreads to large cities. Brazil is one of the countries worst affected by COVID-19 today. Manaus, the capital and largest metropolis of the Amazonian region with more than 2 million inhabitants and a population density of 158 inhabitants / km2, is one of […]

Although we know that the clinical severity of infection by SARS-CoV-2 increases with age, little information exists concerning the virus’ mode of transmission. Having a better understanding of the factors which may contribute to transmission is very important if we want to minimize the impact of the pandemic on our social life. To this end, […]

Blocking the activity of the TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) shows promise as an approach to treating COVID-19. At the present time there are very few molecules that are effective as treatments, and the large scale deployment of vaccines giving satisfactory results may be a long way off. Their effectiveness and clinical safety has to be […]

In a historic decision, the United Kingdom became the 1st country to authorize use of the Pfizer BioNtech anti COVID-19 vaccine in the light of trial results. This authorization was granted at an impressive speed, on the 2nd December 2020. Only China and Russia had already authorized their vaccines, but without waiting for the conclusions […]

The first results of clinical trials around the world have come in: the new year will bring widespread vaccination of at-risk populations against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID19. While the FDA (the American authority which oversees the commercialization of medicinal products) and other national bodies are beginning to give their consent for the first […]

Many governments have seen a possible way out of the coronavirus crisis in digital technologies: anti-COVID test and trace applications that use Bluetooth… But there is an inherent dilemma linked to the use of these systems: on the one hand, they need maximum participation in order to be effective; on the other hand, this effectiveness […]

Numerous clinical trials are currently taking place to prevent or cure pneumonias caused by SARS-CoV-2. In parallel, pre-clinical research is essential in order to better understand the details of this illness, and also to identify new therapeutic targets. In order to do this, models reproducing the cycle of infection and the complex physiopathology of COVID-19 […]

Infection caused by Sars-CoV-2 can result in a wide range of clinical symptoms, from asymptomatic individuals to severe cases that may even lead to death. In severe cases, symptoms include a high fever, a dry cough, pneumonia and inflammation of the lungs. These clinical signs are above all due to a pronounced inflammatory response caused […]

When infection by SARS-CoV-2 occurs, the genomic RNA of the virus is detected by RT-PCR in the nostrils, the pharynx and the nasopharynx, the bronchoalveolar areas, the blood and the stools. It can generally be detected from 3 to 46 days after the onset of symptoms, whereas  contagiousness begins 2 to 3 days before and […]