BT731 Assignment 1 Solution and Discussion
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Re: BT731 Assignment 1 Solution and Discussion
BT731 – Modern Biotechnology: Principles and Applications
Assignment No. 1
Spring 2020
Due Date: June 4, 2020
Instructions
The assignment is of 20 marks in total.
• You are suggested to read the recommended review paper and make a brief summary in your own words.
o Read the entire article thoroughly and highlight or underline the major points. o Write down any significant facts or interesting details in your own words.
o Do not simply “rephrase” exact statements by swapping a few words around. Instead, completely rewrite the information.
o Summarize the main point of each section in a single sentence.
o Then combine the main points of each section to prepare a nice summary of the article.
o Cheating/copying from any source will result in “F” grade in the course. o No assignment will be accepted after the due date.
• DO NOT send the assignment thorough email. Assignments submitted through email will result in ZERO marks.
o If you have any question please contact: [email protected]Article:
Asai A, Konno M, Ozaki M, Otsuka C, Vecchione A, Arai T, Kitagawa T, Ofusa K, Yabumoto M, Hirotsu T, Taniguchi M. (2020). COVID-19 drug discovery using intensive approaches. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2839.
(Paper is easily accessible through the link: and is also available in the download section of course website)
Note:
• Students should read this article and prepare one page summary in MS word file and upload on your LMS well before deadline June 4, 2020.
Outcomes:
This assignment will help you to develop research papers reading habit and enable you to comprehend and analyze the scientific texts.
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Although specific treatments, including vaccines, have not yet been developed for COVID-19, effective prevention methods are now recommended on a global scale. Accordingly, to overcome this pandemic, developing specific inhibitors for viral entry and replication, as well as drug repositioning, will be necessary. As above, several clinical trials and drug repositioning studies are currently ongoing. Eventually, new studies will allow us to better control this pandemic and identify new treatments. Computational calculation and artificial intelligence would help the rapid development of a therapeutic method. On the other hand, accurate crystal structure determination and much drug-response data are necessary for its success. The efficient sharing of information will be important for overcoming this pandemic in the era of globalization.
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Since the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China during December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread on a global scale, causing the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a warning. While novel vaccines and drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 are under development, this review provides information on therapeutics which are under clinical trials or are proposed to antagonize SARS-CoV-2. Based on the information gained from the responses to other RNA coronaviruses, including the strains that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronaviruses and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), drug repurposing might be a viable strategy. Since several antiviral therapies can inhibit viral replication cycles or relieve symptoms, mechanisms unique to RNA viruses will be important for the clinical development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Given that several currently marketed drugs may be efficient therapeutic agents for severe COVID-19 cases, they may be beneficial for future viral pandemics and other infections caused by RNA viruses when standard treatments are unavailable.
Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; infection; drug discovery; drug repositioning