Selective Pressure-Free Treatments for COVID-19

Abstract

The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 40 million human infections since December 2019, when a cluster of unexplained pneumonia cases was first reported in Wuhan, China. Just a few days after the coronavirus was officially recognized, it was identified as the causative agent of this mysterious pneumonia. This paper discusses the pros and cons of antiviral drugs from the selective pressure and possible drug resistance point of view. We also address the key advantages of potential selective pressure-free treatment methods such as the use of sparsely and densely ionizing low-dose radiation (LDR). It is known that LDR has the capacity to modulate excessive inflammatory responses, regulate lymphocyte counts and control bacterial co-infections in patients with COVID-19 and different modalities. Substantial evidence shows that viruses are constantly mutating and evolving. When an antiviral immune response is unable to eliminate a virus, viral evolution is promoted. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to limit the use of antivirals/vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 when their effects on viral fitness are not fully understood. Furthermore, to limit the spread of the virus, it is essential to develop a vaccine that is available for as many people as possible. However, with the advent of vaccines or new therapies, the new situation may force the virus to evolve. Given this consideration, selective pressure-free treatments for COVID-19 are of great importance.