Molecular Biology Labs must Accelerate Novel Coronavirus Research
Posted on 30 Jun 2020; 05:50 PM IST. Last Updated 30 Jun 2020; 05:50 PM IST.Summary: Pharma and Clinical research initiatives repurposed existing drugs such as Remdesivir, dexamethasone for the treatment of Novel Coronavirus (covid-19). Molecular Biology labs around the world with cutting edge tools and technologies, are yet to produce giant leads, in identifying antiviral drug targets. This article describes what is probably expected from the Molecular Biology labs, in the fight against Novel Coronavirus.
Pharma and clinical research initiatives discovered existing drugs such as Remdesivir, and dexamethasone, which are suitable for the treatment of Novel Coronavirus (covid-19). A lot was expected from the molecular biology labs, which possess cutting edge tools and technologies, in identifying potential antiviral drug targets, for the treatment of Novel Coronavirus (covid-19).
A recent report from UCSF Molecular Biology lab identified a protein called casein kinase 2 (CK2), as the primary agent in the replication process of the Novel Coronavirus. The research drilled further down and established how the virus builds bridges called filopodia, to infect other neighbouring cells. A web link to the article is available at -
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/At-UCSF-the-quest-to-kill-the-coronavirus-15370104.php
CK2 kinase was known to be a regulator of growth, proliferation and apoptosis, and its active role in Novel Coronavirus replication is therefore not very surprising. While the disease progression and the creation of filopodia was explained well by the new research, the therapeutics part of the research left a lot to be desired.
The chief complaint with regard to therapeutics is that this research and similar prior research efforts seem to select HIV and/or cancer drugs as candidates for treating Novel coronavirus. Both these diseases have no known cure, and the existing drugs are meant to relieve pain and deterioration. Most of these new drugs are yet to complete clinical trials for the original purpose they were invented or have just emerged from clinical trials. Repurposing these drugs for Novel Coronavirus treatment would once again require another round of extensive clinical research.
Time is a crucial factor in finding suitable antiviral drugs for Novel Coronavirus treatment. The window of opportunity for identifying antiviral drugs is only around 6 months, since a vaccine is expected for Novel coronavirus by the end of the year 2020.
CK2 kinase is also inhibited by flavonoids available in natural foods. Herbs and natural foods could play a very significant role in therapeutics, but unfortunately the Molecular Biology labs, which are equipped with cutting edge tools and technologies, never took sufficient interest in this research.
Very sadly, research in herbs and natural foods were left out to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the spiritual Baba’s of India (Ayurveda), who are using stone age technologies to churn out drugs. Of course a few Asian scientists have attempted to study the in vitro and in vivo behaviour of herbs and natural foods, but the technology employed and the level of detail of the studies, make the results less reliable.
One of the greatest advantages of finding drug candidates in herbs and natural foods is that they require zero time and incur almost zero cost from a clinical research perspective, and could fill the gap immediately for treating Novel Coronavirus, until the vaccines become available.
Molecular Biology labs could probably pursue this area of research, at an accelerated pace.