Naukovi Novyny, Vol 2, Issue 1, January 30, 2020


Viruses and Coronavirus 2019-nCoV

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D. Demydenko

Viruses are a non-cellular life form that, according to the opinion of many biologists, theoretically most likely to have originated from cellular life forms [1], by randomly altering the ordering of certain components of cells, enabling certain arrangements of the components to exist outside the cells and move to other cells and organisms.

There are different viruses. For example, there are viruses that infect bacteria. They are called bacteriophages [2]. Bacteriophages can be used to fight pathogenic bacteria, that is, with a useful purpose. There are also genetically engineered viruses that can kill cancer cells. These viruses are called oncolytic viruses [3]. Viruses can also be used as biological weapons [4].

But most viruses known to the general public are naturally occurring pathogens of humans, animals and plants.

In the course of evolution, cellular life forms [5], to which also humans belong, have developed mechanisms for protection against viral infections. They are diverse and quite complex [6]. But viruses are constantly changing due to mutations of their genetic material (nucleic acids - RNA and DNA), and therefore new lines of viruses emerge against which cellular life forms are forced to seek new protection, mainly also through alteration of their own genetic material, mainly DNA. But sometimes protection against certain viruses is possible because of the genetic variability of populations, that is, small differences in genetic material that make, for example, humans unlike each other. An example of this is the resistance of certain people to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, due to different form of the receptor protein (relatively speaking "lock"), through which HIV, having a "key" in the form of a protein molecule on the surface of the viral particle, enters human cells, that is, HIV cannot enter and infect the cells of these people. Among Europeans, people resistant to HIV make up 2-25% of the population depending on the country [7, 8].

The 2019-nCoV Coronavirus Outbreak in China [9] is the next, sadly tragic, page in the evolution of both coronaviruses and human evolution. The 2019-nCoV airborne respiratory viruses are the fastest to spread in humans because of their ability to be transmitted by micro-drops of fluid from human mucous membranes that separate from these membranes while we are even just talking or breathing. Of course, even in the case of a coronavirus, there will be people not prone to infection after a contact with the virus, but they will not be many.

Animal Origin 2019-nCoV is not a new mechanism for the onset of viral epidemics, and suggests that continuous monitoring of the range of wild animal viruses that come into contact with humans would be helpful in preventing such epidemics.

But since the epidemic is already present, the following are recommendations for action by the Ministry of Health of Ukraїna [10] in the current situation.

2019-nCoV Coronavirus Public Recommendations

January 26, 2020

The Ministry of Health of Ukraїna urges citizens and travelers to follow the usual precautions.


Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause disease: from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The main clinical signs and symptoms of coronavirus are fever and shortness of breath.


If symptoms of acute respiratory illness occur during or after the trip, travelers are advised to consult a doctor and provide travel history.

WHO standard guidelines for the general public to reduce the impact and transmission of ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection):

- wash your hands frequently or treat with disinfectants;

Cover your mouth and nose with a paper handkerchief while coughing and sneezing. The handkerchief used should be immediately discarded and hands washed;

- Avoid close contact with anyone with fever and cough;

- If you have a fever, cough and shortness of breath, contact your doctor as soon as possible and tell him your previous travel history.

- When visiting live markets in areas where new coronavirus cases are currently detected, avoid contact with live animals and surfaces that come in contact with animals;

- Do not consume raw or insufficiently cooked animal products. Raw meat, milk, etc. should be handled with care.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraїna and the coordination staff provide daily updates on cases of disease caused by the new coronavirus.


More recommendations for citizens are available on the website of the Public Health Center.

2. Bacteriophages, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage ).

3. Oncolytic virus, Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncolytic_virus ).

4. Biological warfare, Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare ).

5. Cell (biology), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology))

6. Immune system, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system).

7. CTL escape and increased viremia irrespective of HIV-specific CD4 + T-helper responses in two HIV-infected individuals / [MJ Geels, CA Jansen, E. Baan et al.] // Virology. - 2006. - Vol. 345, N 1. - P. 209-219 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042682205005969?via%3Dihub).

8. Relative resistance to HIV-1 infection of CD4 lymphocytes from persons who remain uninfected despite multiple high-risk sexual exposure / [WA Paxton, SR Martin, D. Tse et al.] // Nat. Med. - 1996. - Vol. 2, N 4. P. 412-417 (https://www.nature.com/articles/nm0496-412).

9. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Novel Coronavirus ( https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china ).

10. Ministry of Health of Ukraїna, Recommendations for citizens on coronavirus 2019-nCoV, January 26, 2020


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