Coronavirus sequences are already available, and the functions of its genes are pretty well understood. Antiviral drug targets tend to be focused on the viral RNA polymerase responsible for synthesis of the viral RNA genome (nucleotide drugs such as remdesivir from Gilead that is being tested against the SARS CoV-2 virus), and the 2 viral proteases (protease inhibitors). Vaccine approaches tend to focus on the spike protein S on the virus surface that is responsible for recognition of the target cell surface receptor.

I think the mechanism of associated pathogenesis is well described. In brief, after inhalation of a virus-laden aerosols, the virus gain entrance to d pneumocytes and invade, multiply n eventually spread further. While doing Dat, fluid-filled alveolar is built prompting build-up pressure in breathing or heavy breathing that limits oxygen supply to other tissues due to affected gas diffusion capacity of the lung and poor exchange of the two gasses (oxygen for carnondioxide) and finally thicken the interface. All these lead to pneumonic features called Acute Respiratory Distress. We have described this well in our ongoing study.

Finally, I am not disputing new idea from molecular point of view,since all info about SARS-COV2 is still in embryonic phase.

I would like to thank you both for your answers. I am teaching a "Vaccines" module at the University, and as you can imagine, the students are making a lot of questions about the COVID-19. Your answers give me more data to share. I would like to put forward another question: how can one develop em effective vaccine against a vírus with high mutation rate? I though that one will need to focus on more stable antigens?

Also, from a public health / epidemiology point of view, instead of quarantining those who are infected, could we improve public transport such that no one has to be in close contact with another person for more than an hour (most destinations can be reached within an hour). The key, i guess is slowing the spread / diffusivity of the virus

From a more general epidemiology perspective, Would keeping a continuous flow of running water (through recycling) in small lakes / ponds etc help prevent breeding of mosquitoes and other disease vectors ?

Could one approach be that of developing a bio-molecule that competitively binds to the receptor of the cells of the respiratory system that the viral spike protein binds to and thus indirectly inhibits viral entry ? The advantage is that this approach requires no knowledge of the viral protein structure but only that of the cell receptor.

Also, in this case, more damage would be caused by our knee jerk, panicked responses to the disease than the disease itself. Public transport may be safer than other modes, especially if care is taken to avoid overcrowding. One could strengthen the immune system of the population. Instead of banning public activity, this is the time not to give in to despair but to increase the level of public activity as a show of defiance. Of course one has to take precautions and find innovative means of staying safe that are convenient

I also have a feeling that the current epidemic is being blown out of proportion to serve other political , socio-economic ends. In the wrong hands, this could be used as a tool to isolate populations, strengthen the hands of the govt, help in raising funds, reduce the influx of foreigners into the country (mainly used by the West) etc. No one denies that there is a genuine problem but it seems to have come at a very convenient time

Of course, the other approach is to develop molecules that bind to the viral Spike Protein. One advantage seems to be that the above can be included in air freshners, sprays etc. These could be sprayed in public places so that the virus can be neutralized even before it reaches the host. Could vaporizing the medium that carries the virus (through lasers , driers etc) help ? Another approach is to help those who are infected. In this context, would nebulizers, inhalers etc help (as in the case of asthma patients) ?

From a social, epidemiological perspective, i guess dorm type housing where strangers / non family members share rooms (presumably to save on the costs) with shared bathrooms should be done away with. I think things should be operated 24 X 7 to reduce the chances of overcrowding (as also traffic congestion). I think one should minimize unwanted physical contact in public with strangers and not personal interaction. Again, research could be conducted on slowing the diffusivity of the virus. Also in countries such as India, there should be well maintained toilets in all public places / restaurants etc with access to tissue, soap etc.

An off beat angle on Covid-19 : Is there a possibility of controlling viruses through consciousnesms , i.e through waves that are typically associated with consciousness / voluntary activity (For example, the signals associated with locomotion) ? What would be the evolutionary perspective on the above ?

It seems John Hopkins has released some notes relating to Covid-19 to the effect that the virus is not a living thing but a protein molecule. It cant be a single protein molecule, then it would not be a virus right ?? As i understand it, a virus has RNA and a limited set of proteins (but more than one). If it possesses just one protein (other than the protective coat), then could it be a prion (proteinacious infectious agent ?) ?

It is not a prion. It is a complex consisting of an RNA genome, a variety of proteins, and a lipid coat.

Viruses are generally not considered to be living because they are not cells and can't replicate without the biochemical machinery provided by a cell.

I also wonder if the inflammation of the lung and increase in the (alveoli ?) are not adaptations to dealing with oxygen poor environments such as high altitude mountainous areas etc

Somehow, it seems wrong to enforce complete lockdown on a whole metropolis for an extended period , especially in the context of travel within the city , opening of public places (of course with social distancing norms , face masks etc) etc though of course it does make sense to curtail movement in and out of the city. One has to look at dense clusters of population within the various municipal wards of the city that have a higher than larger probability of contracting the disease due to various socio-economic factors (possibly with the help of GIS) . And again, the key is increasing testing so that those who test negative can freely mix with those who test negative . They should encourage those who want to get tested voluntarily (without any obvious symptoms). In this context, instead of or in addition to the antibody based test (which depends on the immune response to the virus and could be delayed), they could test the presence of the peptides / amino-acid sequences / proteins that are characteristic of the virus

This relates to my comment on another paper related to a prospective / candidate anti-SARS-Covid drug / compound called Kobephenol. My understanding of the main theme is that it seeks to bind to ACE2 Receptors competitively with the viral spike proteins and thus block the latter's entry into the cell. That set me wondering : "Why not design a molecule that would directly bind to the ACE2 receptor ? " This would also be easier to test since it is not dependent on the presence of the covid virus, the assumption of course being that the drug would be taken by a person who has tested positive for the virus and / or is suffering from the symptoms. I was not sure about the normal function of ACE2 receptor. I later found that it safeguards against the harmful effects of ANG II protein by inhibiting / blocking its activity. So, we would simultaneously need to design a molecule that would inhibit the activity of ANG II protein along with a molecule that binds to the ACE2 receptor ? Should that do the trick ??? I know the above may not be as effective as directly binding to the spike protein of the virus that binds to the above receptor in the human host but isn't far / far simpler to design, synthesize and test (besides having the advantage of being effective against mutant strains as well.) ?. I know the above is simplistic but i wanted to get the basics right without getting into details at this point