ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Mini Review | Open Access
Hafiz M. N. Iqbal1 , Kenya D. Romero-Castillo1, Muhammad Bilal2and Roberto Parra-Saldivar1
1Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Campus Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, N.L., CP 64849, Mexico.
2School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China.
J. Pure Appl. Microbiol., 2020, 14 (1): 13-16 | Article Number: 6146
https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.14.1.03 | © The Author(s). 2020
Received: 29/02/2020 | Accepted: 08/03/2020 | Published: 09/03/2020
Abstract

Recently, a new viral-based infection has emerged as a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, China. With any or many reasons, this newly emerged novel-Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has now been recognized in more than 70 locations around the globe. The disease caused by 2019-nCoV has been named as “coronavirus disease 2019 – COVID-19”. Due to the rising number of confirmed 2019-nCoV infected cases and widespread detection, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced 2019-nCoV as a threatening health concern, and urgent robust actions are of supreme interest to tackle this global health emergency. Owing to this new emergence, we know relatively little about 2019-nCoV, which is a highly pathogenic human pathogen. To completely overcome this life-threatening 2019-nCoV pathogen, further in-depth studies are needed to gain insight and complete understanding about its fast mode spread, replication, and pathogenesis. Since the first appearance and detection of 2019-nCoV and COVID-19, respectively, the current literature lacks the global perspective and replication cycle of 2019-nCoV. Thus, herein, an effort has been made to cover this literature gap. A proper understanding of the 2019-nCoV replication will further insight and strengthen the infection control measures, transmission prevention, and vaccine development, effectively.

Keywords

2019-nCoV, COVID-19, Emergence, Infection, Respiratory disease, Replication.

Introduction

The emergence of 2019-nCoV
The appearance of a new viral outbreak from Wuhan City, China, in Hubei Province, named as 2019-nCoV has now turned into a global concern. Owing to the rising number of infected cases and widespread detection of 2019-nCoV, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019-nCoV outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020. Previous outbreaks of coronavirus such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (SARS-CoV) (Hui and Zumla, 2019) or Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) (MERS-CoV) (Al-Tawfiq et al., 2013) both left 774 and 850 deaths respectively, reflect the severity of the threat and urgency to resolve this outbreak as soon as possible.

The transmissibility of 2019-nCoV, or at least its geographical distribution, seems to be higher and broader than expected due to the vast transport network used in China. It is anticipated that more cases will be spread to other countries and that further transmission may occur, regardless of the initial source of 2019-nCoV still remains unknown. Several studies have reported that although uncounted of the first confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in China worked or visited the Huanan market. Based on the preliminary findings, these factors have been identified. The Huanan seafood market located in Wuhan City is the first and most important reason (World Health Organization (WHO), 2020). On the other hand, the market has remained closed since January 1, 2020. As of March 5, 2020, a total of 80581 confirmed 2019-nCoV cases along with 522 suspected cases had been reported in China. Recent stats on the emergence and widespread distribution of novel-Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in different provinces of CHINA are summarized in Table 1. Whereas, current stats on the appearance and worldwide 2019-nCoV cases in different countries are shown in Figure 1. In order to overcome this health contingency, it is necessary to take the corresponding measures. For instance, the timely detention of the trade-in suspected animals of Wuhan City. Likewise, trade routes must be monitored from the site of the outbreak as well as identify the animals responsible for the infection and the development of additional control and prevention strategies.

Table (1):
Recent stats on the emergence and widespread distribution of novel-Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in different provinces of CHINA. Data Source: IFENG News. Available online at the link:
https://jobtube.cn/wv/?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0.

Province
Confirmed cases
Death
Recovered
Hubei
67466
2902
40479
Guangdong
1351
7
1181
Henan
1272
22
1239
Zhejiang
1215
1
1130
Hunan
1018
4
933
Anhui
990
6
956
Jiangxi
935
1
901
Jiangsu
631
580
Chongqing
576
6
502
Shandong
758
6
566
Sichuan
539
3
418
Heilongjiang
481
13
379
Beijing
418
8
297
Shanghai
339
3
303
Fujian
296
1
270
Hebei
318
6
301
Shaanxi
245
1
224
Guangxi
252
2
213
Hainan
168
6
158
Yunnan
174
2
169
Guizhou
146
2
114
Shanxi
133
126
Liaoning
125
1
106
Tianjin
136
3
128
Gansu
102
2
87
Jilin
93
1
86
Inner Mongolia
75
1
64
Xinjiang
76
3
69
Ningxia
75
69
Qinghai
18
18
Tibet
1
1
Hong Kong
105
2
43
Taiwan
44
1
12
Macao
10
9

 

Fig. 1. Recent stats on global emergence and worldwide confirmed 2019-nCoV cases in different countries. The data is distributed based on the confirmed cases range, i.e., (A) more than 100 confirmed 2019-nCoV cases, (B) confirmed 2019-nCoV cases in the range between 51-100, (C) confirmed 2019-nCoV instances in the range between 26-50, (D) confirmed 2019-nCoV cases in the range between 11-25, and (E) confirmed 2019-nCoV cases in the range between 1-10. Data Source: IFENG News. Available online at the link: https://jobtube.cn/wv/?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0 [Last accessed date: 6 March 2020].

Replication cycle of 2019-nCoV
The recently reemerged 2019-nCoV is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus. It is characterized by club-like spikes projecting from its surface (Phan, 2020). Coronavirus is a complex pathogen with a high capability to infect multiple host species (Fung et al., 2019). Thus, cause a variety of diseases with numerous symptoms. A mechanistic representation of endocytosis and exocytosis-based Coronavirus entry and exit to and from the host, respectively, is shown in Figure 2. The main steps involved in the replication cycle are (1) binding and 2019-nCoV entry to the host via membrane fusion or endocytosis mechanism, (2) upon entrance to the host, release of viral genome, (3) translation of viral polymerase protein, (4) RNA replication, (5) sub-genomic transcription, (6) translation of viral structural protein, (7) viral structural proteins combine with nucleocapsid, (8) formation of mature virion, and (9) release of mature virion via exocytosis mechanism. At the end of the cycle, the newly released mature virion can further infect a new target, and it continues consecutively.

Fig. 2. Representation of endocytosis and exocytosis-based Coronavirus entry and exit to and from the host, respectively. The ­Figure was created with “BioRender.com” template and exported under the terms of premium subscription.

Concluding remarks
Owing to this new emergence, we know fairly little about 2019-nCoV. However, as evident from the current WHO announcement about 2019-nCoV as a global health emergency, 2019-nCoV is a highly pathogenic human pathogen. To completely overcome this life-threatening 2019-nCoV pathogen, further in-depth studies are needed to gain insight and complete understanding about its fast mode spread, replication, and pathogenesis.

Declarations

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
All listed author(s) are thankful to their representative universities/institutes for providing the related support to compile this work.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The listed author(s) declare no conflict of interest in any capacity, including competing or financial.

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTION
All listed author(s) have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

FUNDING
This study received no external funding.

ETHICS STATEMENT
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA
Not applicable.

References
  1. Al-Tawfiq, J. A., Assiri, A., & Memish, Z. A. Middle East respiratory syndrome novel corona (MERS-CoV) infection. Saudi Med J, 2013; 34(10), 991-994.
  2. Fung, T. S., & Liu, D. X. Human Coronavirus: Host-Pathogen Interaction. Annual Review of Microbiology, 2019; 73; 529-557.
    Crossref
  3. Hui, D. S., & Zumla, A. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Historical, Epidemiologic, and Clinical Features. Infectious Disease Clinics, 2019; 33(4), 869-889.
    Crossref
  4. Phan, T. Novel coronavirus: From discovery to clinical diagnostics. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2020 ; 79, 104211.
    Crossref
  5. World Health Organization (WHO), 2020. Emergencies preparedness, response, Pneumonia of unknown origin – China Disease outbreak news 5 January, Available at: https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/. [Last Accessed date: 6 March 2020].

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