1st line of defense for viruses

The world was unprepared for coronavirus disease COVID and remains ill-equipped for future pandemics. While unprecedented strides have been made developing vaccines and treatments for COVID, there remains a need for highly effective and widely available regimens for ambulatory use for novel coronaviruses and other viral pathogens.

We posit that a priority is to develop pan-family drug cocktails to enhance potency, limit toxicity, and avoid drug resistance.

While significant efforts were launched against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 , in vitro and in the clinic, many studies employed solo drugs and had disappointing results. Here, we review drug combination studies against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses and introduce a model-driven approach to assess drug pairs with the highest likelihood of clinical efficacy.

Where component agents lack sufficient potency, we advocate for synergistic combinations to achieve therapeutic levels. Tears, mucus and saliva Your nose, mouth and eyes are obvious entry points for pathogens. However, tears, mucus and saliva contain an enzyme that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria.

Those that are not killed immediately are trapped in mucus and swallowed. Special cells line and protect the nose, throat and other passages within your body. The inner lining of your gut and lungs also produces mucus to trap invading pathogens. Cilia Very fine hairs cilia lining your windpipe move mucus and trapped particles away from your lungs. Particles can be bacteria or material such as dust or smoke. Stomach acid Stomach acid kills bacteria and parasites that have been swallowed.

Neutrophils These are white blood cells that can find, kill and ingest pathogens seeking an entrance into the body. You may now like to read this article The body's second line of defence.

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