Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the Coronaviridae family, genus Betacoronavirus. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 can cause Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). This is an infectious disease that can have a wide range of symptoms. Most people infected show mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without special treatment. However, some patients can develop a serious illness and require medical attention. The virus can spread mainly from an infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols and can stay suspended in the air in an indoor space for minutes or even hours. It has also been widely demonstrated that the virus can be found in the environment such as in waste-waters. It remains unclear and controversial if the faecal transmission has a crucial role in the human-to-human transmission of the virus. The experiments reported in this PhD thesis were conducted with the Virology Research Group and The Clinical Virology Research Group at the University of Oslo/Oslo University Hospital, Norway. They had two aims: first, to investigate the possibility of reviving SARS-CoV-2 virions from faeces of COVID-19-positive patients; and second, to study a new solution called Drug X as a new treatment for defeating SARS-CoV-2. Our preliminary results showed that for the 13,5% of faeces samples, it was possible to revive SARS-CoV-2 viable virions using the Vero-E6 cell line. This ideally indicated the possibility for positive patients to transmit the virus to naïve people. At the same time, it was possible to establish the highest concentration of Drug X can be used, so the highest concentration where the cells survive. It was compared with other acid solutions concluding that although our results showed that Drug X does not affect SARS-CoV-2 infection, this research lays the foundations to explore other similar solutions as a valuable treatment for COVID-19. A detailed exploration of the cellular and molecular functions of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still necessary to better understand virus-host cell interactions to provide novel ways to treat COVID-19 and limit virus circulation.

Unusual aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. From the development of a new protocol for reviving virions from faeces to the test of a new drug

PENNATI, BEATRICE MARINA
2023-05-18

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the Coronaviridae family, genus Betacoronavirus. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 can cause Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). This is an infectious disease that can have a wide range of symptoms. Most people infected show mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without special treatment. However, some patients can develop a serious illness and require medical attention. The virus can spread mainly from an infected person's mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols and can stay suspended in the air in an indoor space for minutes or even hours. It has also been widely demonstrated that the virus can be found in the environment such as in waste-waters. It remains unclear and controversial if the faecal transmission has a crucial role in the human-to-human transmission of the virus. The experiments reported in this PhD thesis were conducted with the Virology Research Group and The Clinical Virology Research Group at the University of Oslo/Oslo University Hospital, Norway. They had two aims: first, to investigate the possibility of reviving SARS-CoV-2 virions from faeces of COVID-19-positive patients; and second, to study a new solution called Drug X as a new treatment for defeating SARS-CoV-2. Our preliminary results showed that for the 13,5% of faeces samples, it was possible to revive SARS-CoV-2 viable virions using the Vero-E6 cell line. This ideally indicated the possibility for positive patients to transmit the virus to naïve people. At the same time, it was possible to establish the highest concentration of Drug X can be used, so the highest concentration where the cells survive. It was compared with other acid solutions concluding that although our results showed that Drug X does not affect SARS-CoV-2 infection, this research lays the foundations to explore other similar solutions as a valuable treatment for COVID-19. A detailed exploration of the cellular and molecular functions of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still necessary to better understand virus-host cell interactions to provide novel ways to treat COVID-19 and limit virus circulation.
18-mag-2023
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/1116935
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