ABSTRACT
As soon as the first case of COVID-19 was reported in China in December 2019, it spread throughout the entire country within a matter of a few weeks and soon after to other countries like Italy, the United States, and Germany. This high pace of its spread is attributed to its mode of transmission, which is through respiratory droplets of an infected individual from where the virus spreads person to person, either directly by being in contact or through contaminated surfaces/fomites. Moreover, intra-country traveling has also been a major role player in the spread of this virus. Everyone can be infected by the virus, but some people show more symptoms than others, especially the elderly, males, and people with certain blood groups and co-morbid conditions. The virus enters the human body and primarily infects lung cells, where it binds through its S protein to a host cellular receptor known as the ACE-2 or angiotensin-converting enzyme-2. The genome of the virus was sequenced quickly after its isolation and millions of complete and partial genome sequences are now available. Although a number of vaccines have been developed recently, there is not enough evidence if it will completely cure the disease. The research community is working hard, utilizing the biochemical, pathophysiological, and genomic information to develop safe and effective drugs and vaccines in order to overcome this deadly pandemic.
