COVID-19 compendium of 150 questions and answers

It's complicated. A published compendium answers 150 questions
on COVID-19. Click on image to enlarge. Reproduced from article.

Following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, international clinicians and researchers have joined
forces to publish a compendium answering questions related to COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.

Monash researchers Professor Robyn O’Hehir and Associate Professor Menno van Zelm were members on a panel of experts answering 150 key questions relating to SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and allergy. 

Molecular block of the SARS-CoV-2 virus being explored

Tight binding of α-ketoamide molecules (red), in the active
 site (gold) of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

Dr Tom Karagiannis and colleagues are examining the binding of small molecules to a particular protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to block its action.

Dr Karagiannis said, "The main protease is a non-structural protein that the SARS-CoV-2 virus needs to replicate.  Once inside the host cell, the virus makes proteins so it can produce more copies of itself. These proteins need to be processed and proteases such as the main protease are responsible for cleaving the proteins at specific sites.

"By blocking the main protease you could stop the virus from replicating, which is what we're testing with a designer molecule called α-ketoamide." 

People with coronavirus are at risk of blood clots and strokes. Here’s what we know so far

Reproduced from The Conversation
by Karlheinz Peter, Hannah Stevens and James McFadyen

As well as causing severe respiratory problems, there is mounting evidence COVID-19 causes abnormalities in blood clotting. Patients with severe COVID-19 infection appear to be at greater risk of developing blood clots in the veins and arteries.

Blood clots can occur deep in the veins of the leg (deep vein thrombosis) and can move to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, which restricts blood flow and oxygen, and can be fatal.