The COVID-19 virus has recently become a pandemic. The first immune barrier is the respiratory system. Symptoms of the virus include coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, and fever. Critical cases require breathing assistance within intensive care units. There are ongoing studies about therapeutics and the effect on COVID-19.
A few literature studies suggest various important roles of zinc in the functioning of the immune system. Most notable J.P. Mossink gave insights into therapeutic effects and considerations of medical staff. More details can be found here: https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/3/1/111
This particular study is about levels of zinc and therapeutics for COVID-19. The human body needs zinc because zinc has a role in not only generating the innate but also the acquired immune system. The zinc status is known to have an effect on infection diseases [2]. When the critical level of intracellular zinc is insufficient, the risk of infection and disease might be higher [3]. This suggests that zinc might also aid to the reduce risk of negative progress of the disease. Some studies show that the intracellular zinc inhibits the replication of the Coronavirus 2 [4].
This leads to the following research questions: How does zinc supplementation and available therapeutic hydroxochloroquine, azitomycine, plaquenil, lopinavir and ritoavir, oseltavimir, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine, green tea extract, remdesivir, favipiravir, galidesivir, disulfiram, griffithsin and pegylatedinterferon alfa-2a and -2b affect the RNA levels of SARS–CoV2?
The results of this study might give new insights to a effective treatment for the SARS–CoV2 virus. Clinical trials are necessary to further analyse this.
Research questions:
How does zinc supplementation and available therapeutic hydroxochloroquine, artemisia annua extract, azitomycine, plaquenil, lopinavir and ritoavir, oseltavimir, chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine, green tea extract, remdesivir, favipiravir, galidesivir, disulfiram, griffithsin and pegylatedinterferon alfa-2a and -2b affect the RNA levels of COVID-19?
[1] ‘Viruses Wallpapers High Quality | Download Free’. http://yesofcorsa.com/viruses/ (accessed Apr. 13, 2020).
[2] N. Z. Gammoh and L. Rink, ‘Zinc in Infection and Inflammation’, Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 6, Jun. 2017, doi: 10.3390/nu9060624.
[3] I. Wessels, M. Maywald, and L. Rink, ‘Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function’, Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 12, Nov. 2017, doi: 10.3390/nu9121286.
[4] A. J. W. te Velthuis, S. H. E. van den Worm, A. C. Sims, R. S. Baric, E. J. Snijder, and M. J. van Hemert, ‘Zn2+ Inhibits Coronavirus and Arterivirus RNA Polymerase Activity In Vitro and Zinc Ionophores Block the Replication of These Viruses in Cell Culture’, PLOS Pathog., vol. 6, no. 11, p. e1001176, Nov. 2010, doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001176.
[5] J. Xue, A. Moyer, B. Peng, J. Wu, B. N. Hannafon, and W.-Q. Ding, ‘Chloroquine Is a Zinc Ionophore’, PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 10, p. e109180, Oct. 2014, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109180.
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Project progress
| Step 1
Preparation |
Doing |
Done |
Notes |
| 1.1 Literature analysis | X | ||
| 1.2 Research proposal | X | ||
| 1.3 Material and instruments planning | |||
| 1.4 Material and instruments ordering | |||
| Step 2
Elaboration |
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| 2.1 Experimental design | |||
| 2.2 Protocol writing | |||
| 2.3 Experiment execution | |||
| (+) 2.4 Experiment adjustments | |||
| Step 3
Computing |
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| 3.1 Results analysis | |||
| 3.2 Critical considerations | |||
| 3.3 Final essay writing |