SARS-CoV2 and COVID 19 Written Report

50 points

Due May 24, 2021

This assignment will serve as the “final exam” for this course. You will need to use the information you learned throughout the semester to write a report covering many of the topics we discussed as they apply to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2 and the disease it causes, COVID 19. The report should include sections on the following topics; description of the COVID 10 disease, viruses, epidemiology, the immune system, host-pathogen interactions, vaccines, and anti-microbials. Each section should include a general discussion or summary of the topic and a specific discussion of the coronavirus or the COVID19 disease as it applies to the topic. You might use as a model how your textbook organizes information about specific diseases and disease organisms ( Chapters 21-27). Below are given some examples of the information that might appear in each section and questions that you might address. Also posted will be a file of papers that you might use as part of your research, but you should also find others on your own and cite your textbook as well.

Structure of the Research Paper

Introduction- overview of the topics to be discussed

Disease- signs and symptoms of the disease ( these can be many and complex) Describe the disease, symptoms, complications, etc.

Virus- Background information about virus morphology and classification of viruses, the possible consequences and outcomes of infection. How would the SARS-CoV2 virus be classified? What is known about its relationship to other corona viruses? What is meant by “variants” of the SARS-CoV2? How do variants arise?

Epidemiology- Describe the concept of the chain of transmission; including definitions of reservoir, portal of entry and exit, vectors, and fomites, rate of attack, mortality rate and herd immunity. What do epidemiologists tell us about the transmission of SARS-CoV2, its reservoir, portals of entry and exit, transmission rate, etc? What is a pandemic? When did the COVID19 disease become a pandemic? What has been the trajectory of the course of infection in the USA? In San Diego?

Host-pathogen Interactions- what are the steps in the infectious process? What are virulence factors? What are the virulence factors of SARS-CoV2? How does this virus cause disease?

Immune System- Describe the parts of the mammalian immune system. How does it work against viruses? What aspects of the immune response itself contribute to the development of the COVID19 disease and/or make it more serious? What is the concept of immunological memory and how does that play into vaccines/ herd immunity?

Vaccines and Anti-microbial drugs.- What is the principle of vaccination? What are the different types of vaccine preparations and what are their advantages and disadvantages? New vaccine strategies are being developed for immunization against corona viruses. Describe such new approaches. What are the basic principles of anti-microbial drug development? How do anti-viral drugs work? Which anti-viral drugs are being proposed/tested for effectiveness against COVID19?

Conclusion/Summary/Future Directions-. What big questions remain to be answered, such as do protective antibodies develop as a consequence of infection? How long might natural immunity last? What intrigues you or worries you the most about this disease/virus?

Bibliography- all source material should be properly cited in the bibliography. I will be providing a list of links to podcasts and articles covering various topics related to SARS-CoV2 and COVID19. Please evaluate your sources- do not use any that seem not to represent the most accurate science-based reporting. Our knowledge is rapidly evolving in this area and information that represented our best understanding a few months ago is now out of date- it is ok to acknowledge this.

Grading rubric

50 points total available.

80% of the points will be awarded based on content and adequacy of reference materials.

20% of the points will be awarded based on construction- all topics covered, complete with bibliography, proper spelling, grammar and English construction.