Immunological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus damage

In 2020 the whole world was faced with an epidemiological outbreak caused by a new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The information available to date suggests that the newly isolated SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus should be assigned to superantigens, the main manifestations of which, as it is known, are suppression of nonspecific resistance factors and suppression of innate immunity mechanisms associated with the formation of a systemic inflammatory response in the form of cytokine storm and pathological activation of phagocytes in the lung tissue with its alteration and subsequent fibrosis. In this case, it is quite difficult and sometimes even impossible to observe the formation of fully-fledged specific immune answer on the effect of such antigens. This, along with the high infectious nature of the disease and the associated mortality, requires special attention to the underlying immunopatomechanism(s). Perhaps that is why little information has been obtained regarding the immunogenic properties of the newly isolated SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus so far, as well as, most importantly, about the structures of the virus itself responsible for the formation of specific immunity to it. The latter will serve as the basis for patient management and vaccine development. Nevertheless, a certain point of view on this issue is already beginning to form, as tools for detecting specific antibodies are being actively developed, as well as modern diagnostic tests for coronavirus, which include real-time polymerase chain reaction, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and isothermal amplification mediated by reverse transcription. The presented analysis makes it possible to expand the understanding of the issue concerning the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19, the mechanisms of the onset and development of the disease in a living organism, the formation of an immune response to the new coronavirus, and also to determine the therapeutic tactics of managing patients with severe coronavirus infection. Elucidating the mechanisms of the emergence and development of a new coronavirus infection can help scientists, general practitioners, clinicians, and laboratory physicians respond correctly to the COVID-19 pandemic.