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    Final Project - BIO-2510-jan23

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    calliste.johnson
    The document summarizes key information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. It discusses how researchers identified that a virus was responsible for COVID-19 using PCR and electron microscopy. It explains that SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that falls into Baltimore Group IV and is similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The replication cycle and need to hijack host cell machinery for energy is also summarized. Treatments like remdesivir and prevention methods including quarantine, herd immunity, and RNA vaccines are highlighted at a high level.

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    Final Project - BIO-2510-jan23

    Uploaded by

    calliste.johnson
    26 views7 pages
    The document summarizes key information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. It discusses how researchers identified that a virus was responsible for COVID-19 using PCR and electron microscopy. It explains that SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that falls into Baltimore Group IV and is similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The replication cycle and need to hijack host cell machinery for energy is also summarized. Treatments like remdesivir and prevention methods including quarantine, herd immunity, and RNA vaccines are highlighted at a high level.

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    Covid 19. Final project

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    final project_BIO-2510-jan23

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    The document summarizes key information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. It discusses how researchers identified that a virus was responsible for COVID-19 using PCR and electron microscopy. It explains that SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that falls into Baltimore Group IV and is similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The replication cycle and need to hijack host cell machinery for energy is also summarized. Treatments like remdesivir and prevention methods including quarantine, herd immunity, and RNA vaccines are highlighted at a high level.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    26 views7 pages

    Final Project - BIO-2510-jan23

    Uploaded by

    calliste.johnson
    The document summarizes key information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. It discusses how researchers identified that a virus was responsible for COVID-19 using PCR and electron microscopy. It explains that SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that falls into Baltimore Group IV and is similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The replication cycle and need to hijack host cell machinery for energy is also summarized. Treatments like remdesivir and prevention methods including quarantine, herd immunity, and RNA vaccines are highlighted at a high level.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 7

    Covid -19 1

    COVID - 19

    BIO-2510: INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY WITH LAB

    Final Project

    Delia Johnson

    Thomas Edison State University

    BIO 2510 OL 009

    Ingrid Herrmann
    Covid -19 2

    COVID - 19

    Introduction

    A noticeable occurrence of the 21st century, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the

    economy and healthcare worldwide. SARS prevention and therapy need a good knowledge of the

    SARS-CoV-2 virus. This publication relies on the CDC, WHO, and peer-reviewed sources to give

    reliable advice on SARS-CoV-2 subjects. These topics include its discovery, replication, treatment

    choices, and control measures.

    SARS-CoV-2 Identification

    1. Early in the pandemic, researchers suspected that a virus caused COVID-19. What are some

    ways that they could confirm that a virus, and not bacteria, was responsible for this disease?

    Researchers could confirm a virus caused by COVID-19 through methods like PCR testing for

    viral RNA and electron microscopy to visualize viral particles (CDC, 2020).
    Covid -19 3

    2. What type of microscopy would be needed to view SARS-CoV-2? Why? What cell type or

    organelle would be of an equivalent size to this virus?

    Electron microscopy would be required to view SARS-CoV-2 due to its small size, comparable to

    cellular organelles like vesicles (WHO, 2020).

    3. Based on the Baltimore classification of viruses, which groups would SARS-CoV-2 fall

    within? What type of genetic material does it contain? Are there any related viruses that

    cause disease in humans?

    SARS-CoV-2 falls within Group IV of the Baltimore classification because it has a single-stranded

    RNA genome; related viruses include SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV (Pilz et al., 2022).

    SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Genetics

    4. Based on your response to question three, draw the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2.

    The replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 involves attachment, entry, RNA replication, assembly, and

    release (Artica et al., 2020).

    5. How could SARS-CoV-2 be cultivated? What biological materials would be needed?

    SARS-CoV-2 can be cultivated using mammalian cell cultures and a specific growth medium

    (Khanal, 2020).

    6. If viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 cannot metabolize organic molecules, where do they get

    the energy to undergo replication?

    SARS-CoV-2 hijacks the host cell's machinery to obtain energy for replication, as it lacks

    metabolic pathways (CDC, 2020).


    Covid -19 4

    7. As discussed above, SARS-CoV-2 has an RNA genome. Discuss three differences between

    RNA and DNA.

    Three differences between RNA and DNA include RNA being single-stranded, containing uracil

    instead of thymine, and less stable (Artica et al., 2020).

    8. During the course of the pandemic, several variants of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus have

    become dominant strains circulating through human populations. Discuss the steps that are

    involved with the formation of a variant and its increase in prevalence.

    Variants arise through mutations, selection for increased transmissibility or immune evasion, and

    spread through the population (Pilz et al., 2022).

    COVID-19 Treatments

    9. One of the few drugs that have been found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 is

    remdesivir. How does this drug inhibit viral replication?

    Remdesivir inhibits the viral RNA polymerase enzyme, thereby blocking replication (Khanal,

    2020).

    10. Predict which physical or chemical methods of control would be effective against viruses

    like SARS-CoV-2. List two physical or chemical methods and their mechanism of action.

    UV light, which damages viral RNA, and ethanol, which disrupts the viral envelope, are effective

    against SARS-CoV-2 (WHO, 2020).

    11. What are at least two suspected reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, besides humans?
    Covid -19 5

    Besides humans, suspected reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2 include bats and pangolins (Artica et al.,

    2020).

    12. How can SARS-CoV-2 be transmitted? For each transmission mechanism, discuss whether

    this is a potential source of transmission.

    Direct contact yes

    Indirect contact yes

    Vehicle yes

    Vector no

    SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted via direct contact, indirect contact, and vehicles like air; vectors

    are not likely involved (CDC, 2020).

    13. Why is quarantine a crucial tool used by public health to reduce the spread of COVID-19?

    Quarantine is crucial for reducing spread as it isolates potential carriers, breaking the chain of

    transmission (WHO, 2020).

    14. How can herd immunity prevent the spread of viruses within a human population?

    Herd immunity prevents the spread by ensuring a high enough percentage of the population is

    immune, thus reducing the number of susceptible hosts (Pilz et al., 2022).
    Covid -19 6

    15. Some of the first vaccines developed for COVID-19 were RNA vaccines. After the

    administration of the vaccine, how does this result in an immune response if exposed to the

    actual virus?

    RNA vaccines introduce mRNA that is translated into a spike protein, triggering an immune

    response, and providing protection (Khanal, 2020).

    Conclusion

    To effectively stop the transmission of COVID-19, it is essential to have a solid grasp of the

    microbiology underlying SARS-CoV-2. Scientific studies illuminate the virus's classification,

    microscopic detection, replication processes, and treatment choices. These findings aid public

    health activities like vaccination and quarantine programs to boost herd immunity and reduce

    transmission. Research is needed to update these methods as the virus evolves and spreads. 
    Covid -19 7

    References

    Artika, I. M., Dewantari, A. K., & Wiyatno, A. (2020). Molecular biology of coronaviruses: current

    knowledge. Heliyon, 6(8).

    CDC. (2020). "COVID-19 Information and Updates." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Khanal, P. (2020). Remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment: mechanism OF action, synthesis, and

    clinical trials. J Pharm Pharm Sci, 9, 1062-1068.

    Pilz, S., Theiler-Schwetz, V., Trummer, C., Krause, R., & Ioannidis, J. P. (2022). SARS-CoV-2

    reinfections: Overview of efficacy and duration of natural and hybrid

    immunity. Environmental Research, 209, 112911.

    WHO. (2020). "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic." World Health Organization.

    Parker, Nina, Schneegurt, M., Thi Tu, A.-H., Lister, P., & Forester, B. M. (2016, November 12).

    https://openstax.org/books/microbiology

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