An outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19 or 2019-CoV) infection has posed significant threats to international health and the economy. In the absence of treatment for this virus, there is an urgent need to find alternative methods to control the spread of disease. Here, we have conducted an online search for all treatment options related to coronavirus infections as well as some RNA-virus infection and we have found that general treatments, coronavirus-specific treatments, and antiviral treatments should be useful in fighting COVID-19. We suggest that the nutritional status of each infected patient should be evaluated before the administration of general treatments and the current children's RNA-virus vaccines including influenza vaccine should be immunized for uninfected people and health care workers. In addition, convalescent plasma should be given to COVID-19 patients if it is available. In conclusion, we suggest that all the potential interventions be implemented to control the emerging COVID-19 if the infection is uncontrollable.

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jmv.25707

Potential Interventions for Novel Coronavirus in China: A Systematic Review

Guide to the Preparation, Use and Quality Assurance of Blood Components.

Coronavirus Disease 2019: Coronaviruses and Blood Safety.

The coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Challenges arise concerning how to optimally support the immune system in the general population, especially under self-confinement. An optimal immune response depends on an adequate diet and nutrition in order to keep infection at bay. For example, sufficient protein intake is crucial for optimal antibody production. Low micronutrient status, such as of vitamin A or zinc, has been associated with increased infection risk. Frequently, poor nutrient status is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, which in turn can impact the immune system. Dietary constituents with especially high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity include vitamin C, vitamin E, and phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols. Several of these can interact with transcription factors such as NF-kB and Nrf-2, related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, respectively. Vitamin D in particular may perturb viral cellular infection via interacting with cell entry receptors (angiotensin converting enzyme 2), ACE2. Dietary fiber, fermented by the gut microbiota into short-chain fatty acids, has also been shown to produce anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, we highlight the importance of an optimal status of relevant nutrients to effectively reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby strengthening the immune system during the COVID-19 crisis.

Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis.

AIDS, caused by the retroviruses human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2), has reached pandemic proportions. Therefore, it is critical to understand how HIV causes AIDS so that appropriate therapies can be formulated. Primarily, HIV infects and kills CD4+ T lymphocytes, which function as regulators and amplifiers of the immune response. In the absence of effective anti-retroviral therapy, the hallmark decrease in CD4+ T lymphocytes during AIDS results in a weakened immune system, impairing the body's ability to fight infections or certain cancers such that death eventually ensues. The major mechanism for CD4+ T cell depletion is programmed cell death (apoptosis), which can be induced by HIV through multiple pathways. Death of HIV-infected cells can result from the propensity of infected lymphocytes to form short-lived syncytia or from an increased susceptibility of the cells to death. However, the apoptotic cells appear to be primarily uninfected bystander cells and are eradicated by two different mechanisms: either a Fas-mediated mechanism during activation-induced cell death (AICD), or as a result of HIV proteins (Tat, gp120, Nef, Vpu) released from infected cells stimulating apoptosis in uninfected bystander cells. There is also evidence that as AIDS progresses cytokine dysregulation occurs, and the overproduction of type-2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) increases susceptibility to AICD whereas type-1 cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ) may be protective. Clearly there are multiple causes of CD4+ T lymphocyte apoptosis in AIDS and therapies that block or decrease that death could have significant clinical benefit.

Mechanisms of CD4+ T lymphocyte cell death in human immunodeficiency virus infection and AIDS.

Bacterial contamination and emerging infections combined with increased international travel pose a great risk to the safety of the blood supply. Tests to detect the presence of infection in a donor have a 'window period' during which infections cannot be detected but the donor may be infectious. Agents and their transmission routes need to be recognized before specific tests can be developed. Pathogen reduction of blood components represents a means to address these concerns and is a proactive approach for the prevention of transfusion-transmitted diseases. The expectation of a pathogen reduction system is that it achieves high enough levels of pathogen reduction to reduce or prevent the likelihood of disease transmission while preserving adequate cell and protein quality. In addition the system needs to be non-toxic, non-mutagenic and should be simple to use. The Mirasol® Pathogen Reduction Technology (PRT) System for Platelets and Plasma uses riboflavin (vitamin B2) plus UV light to induce damage in nucleic acid-containing agents. The system has been shown to be effective against clinically relevant pathogens and inactivates leukocytes without significantly compromising the efficacy of the product or resulting in product loss. Riboflavin is a naturally occurring vitamin with a well-known and well-characterized safety profile. The same methodology is currently under development for the treatment of whole blood, making pathogen reduction of all blood products using one system achievable. This review gives an overview of the Mirasol PRT System, summarizing the mechanism of action, toxicology profile, pathogen reduction performance and clinical efficacy of the process.

/pdf/pathogen-reduction-technology-treatment-of-platelets-plasma-1zh7rcm71p.pdf

Pathogen Reduction Technology Treatment of Platelets, Plasma and Whole Blood Using Riboflavin and UV Light.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/trf.13860

Inactivation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) in plasma products using a riboflavin‐based and ultraviolet light‐based photochemical treatment

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(16)00581-X.pdf

Effect of Plasmodium inactivation in whole blood on the incidence of blood transfusion-transmitted malaria in endemic regions: the African Investigation of the Mirasol System (AIMS) randomised controlled trial

White blood cell inactivation after treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet light

Treatment of whole blood with riboflavin plus ultraviolet light, an alternative to gamma irradiation in the prevention of transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease?

Susanne Marschner

Papers

Pathogen Reduction Technology Treatment of Platelets, Plasma and Whole Blood Using Riboflavin and UV Light.

Inactivation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) in plasma products using a riboflavin‐based and ultraviolet light‐based photochemical treatment

Effect of Plasmodium inactivation in whole blood on the incidence of blood transfusion-transmitted malaria in endemic regions: the African Investigation of the Mirasol System (AIMS) randomised controlled trial

White blood cell inactivation after treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet light

Treatment of whole blood with riboflavin plus ultraviolet light, an alternative to gamma irradiation in the prevention of transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease?