The coronavirus has been evolving since it’s discovery in the early 1900’s, which has
NIH. (2020, May 19). Coronaviruses. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This article describes how the coronavirus originated and how it developed and evolved over the past couple decades. There are hundreds of coronaviruses, most of them originating from animals (pigs, camels, cats, bats, etc.). There are only 7 coronaviruses that actually do harm. 4 of the 7 known coronaviruses that sicken people cause moderate disease. The other three, SARS, MERS-Cov, and SARS-Cov-2/Covid-19, are all originated from animals and are known to cause fatal disease. SARS coronavirus emerged in November 2002 and caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (NIH,2020). That virus disappeared by 2004. MERS, the second coronavirus, emanated from an animal reservoir from a camel, and it causes respiratory syndrome caused by MERS-Cov. The final known coronavirus is COVID-19 and it came from China in December 2020 and was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. According to NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “The (NIAID) in the United States (U.S.) National Institutes of Health (NIH) is committed to safeguarding the health of Americans and people around the world by accelerating research efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19 and characterize the causative agent of this disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (NIH, 2020).”
NIH. (2020, May 19). Developing Therapeutics and Vaccines for Coronaviruses. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The article states that NIAID-funded scientists are exploring ways to treat and prevent human coronavirus infections by working to develop new antibodies, drugs, and vaccines (NIH 2020). Some of these vaccines will block the viruses from entering cells, some will delay immune system response, and some will stop viral replication. Scientists working in Bethesda, Md., and Hamilton, Mont., are testing the antiviral drug remdesivir. According to NIAID,”NIAID is supporting a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of remdesivir in hospitalized adults diagnosed with COVID-19 . The trial can be adapted to evaluate additional investigative treatments. A separate NIAID-sponsored clinical trial is evaluating whether a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
NIAID also is exploring other broad-spectrum antiviral and immune-modulating compounds for activity against COVID-19 (NIH 2020). The NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VCR) are collaborating with another major biotechnology, Moderna, Inc., to develop an investigational messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine designed to prevent MERS, but quickly adapted for COVID-19. Phase 1 of the clinical trial is being held at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, Emory University in Atlanta and the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In Phase 1, a vaccine will be given to healthy volunteers to test if it is safe to test if it is safe and induces an immune response (NIH 2020). If Phase 1 succeeds, a Phase 2, Phase 2b, and Phase 3 will be put into action. A vaccine will probably not be publicly released until early to mid 2021.
Jillian Kramer. (2020, May 6). Hoping Llamas Will Become Coronavirus Heroes. New York Times.
Humans produce only one kind of antibody, made of two types of protein chains, heavy and light, that together form a Y shape. Heavy-chain proteins span the entire Y, while light-chain proteins touch only the Y’s arms. Llamas, produce two types of antibodies. One of those antibodies is similar in size and constitution to human antibodies. But the other is much smaller; it’s only about 25 percent the size of human antibodies (Jillian Kramer 2020). This llama’s antibody still forms a Y, but its arms are much shorter because it doesn’t have any light-chain proteins. Scientists isolated 2 nanobodies from llamas and engineered a new antibody that binds to the spike protein of coronavirus that causes Covid_19. This antibody prevents the virus from invading human cells. To prove further study, scientists injected the llama with MERS. The llama’s antibodies stopped it from entering their blood cells like normal, but the scientists found a specific single-domain antibody called VHH-72 that is bound tightly to the spike protein of SARS-Cov-1, and prevented the virus from infecting the cells. They tested VHH-72 and another antibody on SARS-Cov-2 and this newly engineered antibody both neutralizes SARS-Cov-1 and SARS-Cov-2. These scientists are going to release these antibodies into inhalers due to their small amounts of it, and it will slow down Covid-19.
CDC (2020, April 24). How to Protect Yourself and Others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This article states on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The article says that there are 6 ways to prevent yourself from getting the novel coronavirus. The first way is to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing (CDC 2020). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with more than 60% alcohol and rub until hands are completely dry. The second way is to avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. Stay 6 feet away from outside people even if they have the virus or not. The third way is to cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others. Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others because the cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing. The fourth way is covering coughs and sneezes. According to the article, “ If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol (CDC 2020).” The fifth way to protect yourself is to clean and disinfect. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. The sixth and final way is to monitor your health regularly.
MAYO (2020, June 18). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MAYO Clinic.
The article states that COVID-19 originated from China and is the most dangerous coronavirus to date. According to the website, “Signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may appear two to 14 days after exposure. This time after exposure and before having symptoms is called the incubation period (MAYO 2020).”Common signs and symptoms can include: fever, cough, tiredness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle aches, chills, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, headache, chest pain. People who are older or have existing chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, severe obesity, lung disease, or people with an incapacitated immune system are highly at risk and will usually have a great amount of the existing symptoms of the coronavirus 2019 disease. “If you have COVID-19 symptoms or you've been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, contact your doctor or clinic right away for medical advice. Tell your health care team about your symptoms and possible exposure before you go to your appointment. If you have emergency COVID-19 signs and symptoms, seek care immediately (MAYO 2020).” Emergency signs and symptoms can include: Trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, inability to stay awake, blue lips or face, and new confusion. MAYO states, “ Although most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms, the disease can cause severe medical complications and lead to death in some people. Older adults or people with existing chronic medical conditions are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. Complications may include: blood clot, organ failure, heart problems, acute respiratory distress syndrome, blood clots, acute kidney injury, pneumonia and trouble breathing, and additional bacteria and viruses.
NIH. (2020, April 10). NIH begins study to quantify undetected cases of coronavirus infection. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This article states that a new study has begun recruiting at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, to determine how many adults in the United States without a confirmed history of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have antibodies to the virus. The presence of antibodies in the blood indicates a prior infection (NIH 2020). Researchers will collect and analyze blood samples from as many as 10,000 healthy and unhealthy volunteers to provide critical data for coronavirus. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “ The results will help illuminate the extent to which the novel coronavirus has spread undetected in the United States and provide insights into which communities and populations are most affected (NIH 2020)”. The research will take place at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), with additional support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), all parts of NIH (NIH 2020). Scientists will test the participant’s blood samples for SARS-Cov-2 antibodies and proteins called IgG and IgM, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to find these proteins. Any healthy individuals that are over the age of 18 can participate in the research.
CDC (2020, April 24). If You Have Pets. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This article states that pets, such as dogs and cats, have been reported to catch COVID-19, mostly because of contact with an owner that is sick. The risk of animals spreading the novel coronavirus is low. If a pet is infected, it will have mild to no symptoms, and will fully recover quickly. According to the CDC, you should do the following to keep you and your pet safe: keep cats indoors when possible and do not let them roam freely outside, walk dogs on a leash at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others, avoid public places where a large number of people gather, do not put face coverings on pets, covering a pet’s face could harm them. There is no evidence that the virus can spread to people from the skin, fur, or hair of pets. Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other products not approved for animal use (NIH 2020). If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), you should restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would with people. Until we know more about this virus, people sick with COVID-19 should avoid contact with pets and other animals. You should do the following: when possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick, avoid contact with your pet including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, sharing food, and sleeping in the same bed, and if you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.
CDC (2020, June 4).COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Group. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This article describes how racial and ethnic minority groups can cause COVID-19 and have different symptoms. According to CDC, “A recent CDC MMWR Report included race and ethnicity data from 580 patients hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19 found that 45% of individuals for whom race or ethnicity data was available were white, compared to 59% of individuals in the surrounding community. However, 33% of hospitalized patients were black, compared to 18% in the community, and 8% were Hispanic, compared to 14% in the community (CDC 2020)”. CDC also provides reasons people of racial and ethnicity might get coronavirus differently. The first reason might be because of institutional racism in the form of residential house segregation in densely populated areas. People who live in these dense areas find it difficult to practice social distancing. The second reason might be the health conditions that these victims of racism through house segregation live in. These people usually live far away from grocery stores and medical facilities, making it difficult to stock up on supplies and medicines. The final reason might be because of racial and ethnic minority groups might have to live in detention centers, jails, prisons, with very little food and water and medical supplies. Ways to stop this type of segregation is by sending medical supplies, food and water, furniture and beds, and by speaking out in your community of these types of problems.
R. Dolin (2020, May 22). Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Preliminary Report. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) conducted an experiment where they injected remdesivir, a drug which is also an antiviral medication, into 538 adults infected with the novel coronavirus. Each patient was given 200 mg of the drug each day for 29 days. NEJM also injected an antiviral medication placebo in another small group of people (521) infected with COVID-19. The difference between the two drugs is that of the recovery time, in which remdesivir had a recovery time of 11 days, beating placebo which had a recovery time of 15 days. According to NEJM, “Remdesivir (GS-5734), an inhibitor of the viral RNA-dependent, RNA polymerase with inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV),4-7 was identified early as a promising therapeutic candidate for Covid-19 because of its ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro (Dolin 2020)”. Other tests include that when remdesivir was used on MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) remdesivir stabilized blood pressure and reduced lung viral levels and lung damage. In conclusion, Remdesivir could be used to treat and slow down COVID-19 and possibly be the way to finding a vaccine. There is also a downside to remdesivir, because due it being a drug, the side effects can include: low blood pressure, changes in your heartbeat, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of your lips, face, or throat, rash, nausea, vomiting, sweating, or shivering. It can also increase liver enzymes, which can cause liver and organ failure and inflammation failure.
Dr. Francis Collins (2020, June 18). Genes, Blood Type Tied to Risk of Severe COVID-19. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This article describes how genes may be the cause of the more severe symptoms to the new COVID-19. Collins describes how a new genome-wide association (GWAS) study that was published by The New England Journal of Medicine finds that gene variants in two regions of the human genome are associated with severe COVID-19 and correspondingly carry a greater risk of COVID-19-related death. NIH scientists found out that the 2 branches in a DNA stem implicated as a harbor for COVID-19. Research has found that if a person has type A blood, he will have a 50% greater chance of developing symptoms from the new coronavirus. In contrast, one who has type O blood reduces 50% chance of developing symptoms. An analysis was taken in Italy and Spain to see how 1,200 individuals with healthy blood donors vs COVID-19 infected people's blood. The analysis identified two places that turned up significantly more in COVID-19 patients. One of them is found on chromosome 3 and covers a cluster of six genes with potentially relevant functions. For instance, this portion of the genome encodes a transporter protein known to interact with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the surface receptor that allows the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, to bind to and infect human cells (Collins NIH 2020). This blood type analysis can help define which people are more ill and need treatment vs those who do not need as many.
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