COVID-19 symptoms can persist in an estimated 10% of patients long past recovering from the worst impacts of acute infection and testing negative for SARS-CoV-2. Inconsistencies in symptoms, patient phenotypes, and risk factors make it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of Long COVID. In this issue of Cayman Currents, explore prominent theories of underlying pathophysiology, lessons from other post-viral syndromes, and Cayman’s products and services to accelerate Long COVID research.

Article:

• In It for the Long Haul: Research Tools for Long COVID Syndrome
  

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 elicited a worldwide effort to discover new therapeutics and protective vaccines. Researchers are now accelerating the development of pandemic-relevant pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines at a record pace. This webinar will discuss therapeutic solutions to COVID-19 and delve into the highs and lows of developing pandemic drugs and vaccines at lightning speed.

Hosted by Drug Discovery News.

​Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a disease characterized by hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Nitric oxide (NO) is known to promote pulmonary vasodilation, which can be beneficial in a low oxygen state. Novel compounds were modeled around a well-known NO donor to combat vascular endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19, and Cayman’s in silico modeling services performed drug-protein interaction studies. The compounds were modeled against nine key SARS-CoV-2 targets using Maestro Schrödinger Suite software (Glide docking). Docking scores and intermolecular interactions within the target’s key binding sites were compared between investigational compounds and known antivirals. Several novel agents tested had better GlideScores (a prediction of ligand affinity) against the papain-like protease (PL^pro) of SARS-CoV-2 compared with known antiviral drugs. We concluded there is a high likelihood these novel compounds will prove to be of therapeutic value against COVID-19. 

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To cite this poster: Schmedtje, J.F. Jr. and Assar, Z. Novel experimental therapeutics for COVID-19 derived from a nitric oxide donor. Poster presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions Virtual Meeting; November 13-17, 2020.

​Key Features

To cite this application note: Tew, D.J., Blaylock, J.B., and Metcalfe, K.C. Seropositivity Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies. Application Note, Cayman Chemical (2020).