Importance The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents an unprecedented challenge to identify effective drugs for prevention and treatment. Given the rapid pace of scientific discovery and clinical data generated by the large number of people rapidly infected by SARS-CoV-2, clinicians need accurate evidence regarding effective medical treatments for this infection. Observations No proven effective therapies for this virus currently exist. The rapidly expanding knowledge regarding SARS-CoV-2 virology provides a significant number of potential drug targets. The most promising therapy is remdesivir. Remdesivir has potent in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, but it is not US Food and Drug Administration approved and currently is being tested in ongoing randomized trials. Oseltamivir has not been shown to have efficacy, and corticosteroids are currently not recommended. Current clinical evidence does not support stopping angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with COVID-19. Conclusions and Relevance The COVID-19 pandemic represents the greatest global public health crisis of this generation and, potentially, since the pandemic influenza outbreak of 1918. The speed and volume of clinical trials launched to investigate potential therapies for COVID-19 highlight both the need and capability to produce high-quality evidence even in the middle of a pandemic. No therapies have been shown effective to date.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2764727/jama_sanders_2020_rv_200005.pdf

Pharmacologic Treatments for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review.

A novel infectious disease, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease (COVID-19) spread rapidly, reaching epidemic proportions in China, and has been found in 27 other countries. As of February 27, 2020, over 82,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported, with > 2800 deaths. No specific therapeutics are available, and current management includes travel restrictions, patient isolation, and supportive medical care. There are a number of pharmaceuticals already being tested [1, 2], but a better understanding of the underlying pathobiology is required. In this context, this article will briefly review the rationale for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as a specific target.

/pdf/angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2-ace2-as-a-sars-cov-2-3drxdjxi93.pdf

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a SARS-CoV-2 receptor: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic target.

SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 Is an Interferon-Stimulated Gene in Human Airway Epithelial Cells and Is Detected in Specific Cell Subsets across Tissues.

The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.

Therapeutic options in response to the 2019-nCoV outbreak are urgently needed. Here, we discuss the potential for repurposing existing antiviral agents to treat 2019-nCoV infection (now known as COVID-19), some of which are already moving into clinical trials. Therapeutic options in response to the 2019-nCoV outbreak are urgently needed. Here, we discuss the potential for repurposing existing antiviral agents to treat 2019-nCoV infection (now known as COVID-19), some of which are already moving into clinical trials.

Therapeutic options for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The eucaryotic expression plasmids were constructed to express the complete (HCc191) or the truncated (HCc69 and HCc40) HCV core genes, solely or fused with the HBV core gene (HBc144). These constructions were transiently expressed in COS cells under the control of the CMV promoter. The antigenicity of HBc and HCc could be detected in the expression products by ELISA and Western blot. The mice immunized with these expression plasmids efficiently produced the anti-HCc antibodies, and also anti-HBc antibodies when the plasmids contained the fusion genes. In addition, the antibodies induced by the fusion genes were more persistent than those induced by the non-fusion HCV core genes. These indicate that the fusion of HCc genes to HBc gene is in favor of the immunogenicity of HCc, while the immunogenicity of HBc is not affected.

DNA immunization with fusion genes containing HCV core region and HBV core region.

The incorporation of chicory into phased farming systems requires an understanding of N mineralisation of chicory residues and the supply of N to subsequent crops. A field experiment was conducted to determine the relative rates of N mineralisation from chicory, chicory/subclover and lucerne/subclover residues. Existing pastures were removed by spraying with herbicide in either spring or autumn and mineral N was measured at the time of spraying, and then 6 and 12 months later. Chicory/subclover had the greatest mineralisation rate during the first 6 months after spraying in either spring (0.54 kg mineral N/ha/day) or autumn (0.64 kg mineral N/ha/day), whilst lucerne/subclover had the lowest at 0.07 and 0.08 kg mineral N/ha/day for spring and autumn, respectively. However, 12 months after spraying, the mineralisation rate increased for lucerne/subclover, but began to slow for chicory and chicory/subclover. Compared to chicory alone, growing chicory with subclover significantly increased the release of mineral N by 28 and 47 kg N/ha, 6 and 12 months after pasture removal, respectively. The mass of N mineralised 12 months after pasture removal was similar for chicory/subclover (219 kg N/ha) and lucerne/subclover (234 kg N/ha). However, as high rates of mineralisation occurred for chicory treatments within the first 6 months after spraying, chicory-based pastures could potentially be sprayed out later (eg autumn) than lucerne pastures allowing more grazing time without the risk of N deficiency to the following crop. Therefore chicory/subclover pastures are well suited to phased farming systems, particularly where pasture phases are shorter, as the N benefit can be readily utilised by following crops. URLs: http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/ http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/climatechange/8125_gardnermj.htm#TopOfPage http://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/R/-?func=dbin-jumpfull&amp;object_id=40607&amp;local_base=GEN01-CSU01 Author Address: jcondon@csu.edu.au CRO identification number: 40607

Mineralisation of chicory and lucerne residues under field conditions

/pdf/the-effect-of-aspect-on-persistence-of-several-perennial-opo3rnfd9v.pdf

The effect of aspect on persistence of several perennial grass species

Many of the important questions facing farming systems in the world today require long-term studies to provide meaningful information and answers. A long-term agronomic experiment (LTAE) should (1) have long-term objectives; (2) study important soil processes or ecological processes; and (3) be related to the productivity and sustainability of systems. A well established LTAE can provide both insights into how the system operates and foresight into where the system goes. The prerequisites for setting up a LTAE are the secured land, continuous funding and dedicated scientists. A number of principles must be considered carefully when establishing a LTAE, (1) the site must be representative of large areas; (2) the treatments should be simple, but focusing on the big questions; (3) the plots should be large enough to allow subsequent modification of the experiment if this becomes necessary; (4) crop rotations should minimise, wherever possible, the risk of build-up of pests and diseases, and rotational phase should be considered in a rotational experiment; (5) a clearly defined experimental protocol should be developed to ensure data collected is scientifically valid and statistically analysable, but with flexibility to allow essential changes; (6) soil samples, possibly plant samples, should be achieved to provide better answer to the original questions when new, perhaps more accurate analytical techniques are developed, or answer new research questions that were not considered in the original design. The MASTER experiment in Australia was used as a case study to demonstrate how these principles are implemented in practice.

The principles and guidelines for designing long-term agronomic experiments

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1560&context=igc

Guangdi Li

Papers

DNA immunization with fusion genes containing HCV core region and HBV core region.

Mineralisation of chicory and lucerne residues under field conditions

The effect of aspect on persistence of several perennial grass species

The principles and guidelines for designing long-term agronomic experiments

Subsoil acidity determines survival of lucerne on a highly acidic soil