According to the University of Maryland US researchers, the protein in SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for some heart tissue damage. Recently a drug has been developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) & Dr Reddy’s laboratories that can help reverse this damage, as per the study based on fruit flies & mice heart cells published in Nature Communications Biology, a peer-reviewed journal. This drug is called 2DG. The principle behind its functioning is simple.
Every organism requires energy to undergo further functioning and metabolism. Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 infects and hijacks the cell mechanism and later gets energy by breaking down the glucose. This process is called Glycolysis. This drug targets this problem.
Hindering the process of Glycolysis done by SARS-CoV-2 to get energy. Hence no growth of the virus. It has been found that people infected with COVID are at higher risk of heart-related issues such as heart muscle inflammation, heart rhythm getting abnormal, heart attacks, heart failure, blood clot issues, etc., in comparison to people unaffected by Covid. 2DG is an oral drug. It has not been approved by the US food & drug administration to treat the disease; however, it is under clinical trials in India for treating covid, as per the agencies.
The research by Han & his team last year identified the most toxic protein of SARS-CoV-2 by using fruit flies & human cells. There is a drug called selinexor that helped reduce the toxicity at some level but did not affect the toxic protein Nsp6, as per the studies. This toxic protein can affect the mechanism of mitochondria as well. But further studies are under process and will lead to some ultimate treatment solutions for future diseases and health risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What are the best ways to prevent yourself from COVID-19?
Ans – Keeping a social distance, wearing masks, using hand sanitisers and keeping yourself safe from pathogens is the best way to prevent one away from COVID-19.
Q.2 Which food is good for COVID patients to eat?
Ans – It is essential to consume fibre intake. One can consume vegetables, pulses, whole grain foods & pulses.
Q.3 What is spike protein in COVID-19?
Ans – Spike protein is responsible for binding with the host cell receptor & then inducing the cell membrane of a virus into it.
Q.4 Why is isolation essential in COVID-19?
Ans – Isolation is a way to break the chain of infectious diseases that can spread through air and water droplets. Covid is a viral disease that can easily infect healthy people. Hence isolation is suggested during the recovery phase of covid. Isolation slow downs the spread.
Q.5 What are the various types of COVID-19 vaccines?
Ans – Various types of covid vaccines include mRNA, vector-based, protein subunits, live attenuated, inactivated, etc.
Q.6 What type of vaccine are AstraZeneca and Pfizer?
Ans – AstraZeneca is a viral vector-based vaccine, while Pfizer is an mRNA-based vaccine.
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