First demonstration of COVID-19-like response by an essential virus encoded protein by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo
Acute lung injury (ALI) can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, which can cause significant and lethal effects for those infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
SARS-CoV-2, which is the causative agent of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), was first reported in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. Since then, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 182 million people worldwide and caused the deaths of almost 4 million people as of June 30, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired international collaborations to work together in developing effective and safe vaccines in a rapid manner. While significant progress has been made in the development and distribution of these vaccines in many countries around the world, several challenges have limited the ability of many populations to also benefit from these medical advancements. Some of these challenges include delays in vaccine rollouts or stock availability, inefficient herd immunity, as well as the emergence of infectious viral strains.