Prevention and treatment of COVID-19: Focus on interferons, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and vaccine.

Bianza Moise Bakadia, Feng He, Tiatou Souho, Lallepak Lamboni, Muhammad Wajid Ullah, Biaou Ode Boni, Abeer Ahmed Qaed Ahmed, Biampata Mutu Mukole, Guang Yang

Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie 2020;133():111008

PMID: 33227708

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

The ongoing pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has drawn the attention of researchers and clinicians from several disciplines and sectors who are trying to find durable solutions both at preventive and treatment levels. To date, there is no approved effective treatment or vaccine available to control the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The preliminary in vitro studies on viral infection models showed potential antiviral activities of type I and III interferons (IFNs), chloroquine (CQ)/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and azithromycin (AZM); however, the clinical studies on COVID-19 patients treated with CQ/HCQ and AZM led to controversies in different regions due to their adverse side effects, as well as their combined treatment could prolong the QT interval. Interestingly, the treatment with type I IFNs showed encouraging results. Moreover, the different preliminary reports of COVID-19 candidate vaccines showcase promising results by inducing the production of a high level of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and specific T cell-mediated immune response in almost all participants. The present review aims to summarize and analyze the recent progress evidence concerning the use of IFNs, CQ/HCQ, and AZM for the treatment of COVID-19. The available data on immunization options to prevent the COVID-19 are also analyzed with the aim to present the promising options which could be investigated in future for sustainable control of the pandemic.

Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.; Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang 43800, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Laboratoire de Biochimie des Aliments et Nutrition, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Kara, Kara, Togo.; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Virologie, Institut National d'Hygiène-Togo, 26 Rue Nangbéto, Quartier Administratif- PO. Box 1396, Lomé, Togo.; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China.; Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Ministère de la Santé, Democratic Republic of the Congo.; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111008