In silico screening of Chinese herbal medicines with the potential to directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus

Objective: In this study we execute a rational screen to identify Chinese medical herbs that are commonly used in treating viral respiratory infections and also contain compounds that might directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV), an ongoing novel coronavirus that causes pneumonia.Methods: There were two main steps in the screening process. In the first step we conducted a literature search for natural compounds that had been biologically confirmed as against sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Resulting compounds were cross-checked for listing in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database.Compounds meeting both requirements were subjected to absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion(ADME) evaluation to verify that oral administration would be effective. Next, a docking analysis was used to test whether the compound had the potential for direct 2019-nCoV protein interaction.In the second step we searched Chinese herbal databases to identify plants containing the selected compounds. Plants containing 2 or more of the compounds identified in our screen were then checked against the catalogue for classic herbal usage. Finally, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the general in vivo effects of each selected herb.Results: Of the natural compounds screened, 13 that exist in traditional Chinese medicines were also found to have potential anti-2019-nCoV activity. Further, 125 Chinese herbs were found to contain 2 or more of these 13 compounds. Of these 125 herbs, 26 are classically catalogued as treating viral respiratory infections. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that the general in vivo roles of these26 herbal plants were related to regulating viral infection, immune/inflammation reactions and hypoxia response.Conclusion: Chinese herbal treatments classically used for treating viral respiratory infection might contain direct anti-2019-nCoV compounds.

SARS-CoV-2 immunity and functional recovery of COVID-19 patients 1-year after infection

The long-term immunity and functional recovery after SARS-CoV-2 infection have implications in preventive measures and patient quality of life.Here we analyzed a prospective cohort of 121 recovered COVID-19 patients from Xiangyang,China at 1-year after diagnosis.Among them,chemiluminescence immunoassay-based screening showed 99%(95%CI,98–100%)seroprevalence 10–12 months after infection,comparing to 0.8%(95%CI,0.7–0.9%)in the general population.Total anti-receptor-binding domain(RBD)antibodies remained stable since discharge,while anti-RBD IgG and neutralization levels decreased over time.A predictive model estimates 17%(95%CI,11–24%)and 87%(95%CI,80–92%)participants were still 50%protected against detectable and severe re-infection of WT SARS-CoV-2,respectively,while neutralization levels against B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants were significantly reduced.All non-severe patients showed normal chest CT and 21%reported COVID-19-related symptoms.In contrast,53%severe patients had abnormal chest CT,decreased pulmonary function or cardiac involvement and 79%were still symptomatic.Our findings suggest long-lasting immune protection after SARS-CoV-2 infection,while also highlight the risk of immune evasive variants and long-term consequences for COVID-19 survivors.