Current community transmission and future perspectives on the COVID-19 process

Authors: SEYHAN TÜRK, CAN TÜRK, ÜMİT YAVUZ MALKAN, ELİF SENA TEMİRCİ, MUSTAFA ÇAĞRI PEKER, İBRAHİM CELALETTİN HAZNEDAROĞLU

Abstract: Background/aim: COVID-19 syndrome due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a currently challenging situation ongoing worldwide. Since the current pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a great concern for everybody in the World, the frequently asked question is how and when the COVID-19 process will be concluded. The aim of this paper is to propose hypotheses in order to answer this essential question. As recently demonstrated, SARS-CoV-2 RNAs can be reverse-transcribed and integrated into the human genome. Our main hypothesis is that the ultimate aim of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the incorporation to human genome and being an element of the intestinal virobiota. Materials and methods: We propose that the SARS-CoV-2 genomic incorporation to be a part of human virobiota is essentially based on three pathobiological phases which are called as the 'induction', 'consolidation', and 'maintenance phases'. The phase of 'recurrence' complicates any of these three disease phases based on the viral load, exposure time, and more contagious strains and/or mutants. We have performed the 'random walk model' in order to predict the community transmission kinetics of the virus. Results: Chimerism-mediated immunotherapy at the individual and community level with the help of vaccination seems to be the only option for ending the COVID-19 process. After the integration of SARS-CoV-2 virus into the human genome via the induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases as an element of intestinal virobiota, the chimerism would be concluded. The 'viral load', the `genomic strain of the SARS-CoV-2', and `host immune reaction against the SARS-CoV-2' are the hallmarks of this long journey. Conclusion: Elucidation of the functional viral dynamics will be helpful for disease management at the individual- and communitybased long-term management strategies.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, virobiota, genomic integration

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